Celebration Of Growth. Poem by Dietra Reid

Feelings of inferiority had been fuel
running thru my veins.
My own thinking, decades of
outside conditioning like
invisible dew each dawn.
Dark skin was believed to be
inherently distasteful or ugly.
Life turned my focus to more
important things than
outer shell.

In the wisdom of my late mother
I grew.
She naturally, surrounded me in a
caravan of strong, smart,
loving, spiritual. beautiful,
African American older
relatives and friends.
The lessons were taught by doing
so well,
I was unaware of the teaching or
lesson plan.


Reflecting on that day on the sands
of Waikiki Beach I made it.
Remembering on the last day of my
graduation gift there I smile.
it was a celebration of total
acceptance.
I slathered on baby oil because I
wanted to get darker.

The sun baked my skin jet black.
The sun reheated all the love and
care of those now passed away.
It made me whole in the person
God created.