Fading Colors

Are true colors really true?

Brown eyes…brown skin…

But that’s only where I begin.

Am I a reflection of the reaction

Or a surge of what’s within?

The assessment’s always tricky

So much value tucked away.

Whether inside-out, or outside-in

Worth is still expressed so unequally.

So much of the world changes,

While so much stays the same

Having traveled so far

Why is there such a battle to go backwards from where we came?

Having grown so much in vision and value

To watch the fight to resist,

The tension of balance is strong

And violence and oppression remain the weapons of choice.

Remaining a target, while others are set to flourish.

Will my battle ever be more than this steep uphill journey.

Authority, society, perception, deception,

The foe list grows bigger with every passing season.

My fight continues for positive change

Not just for while I’m here, but also for those that remain.

Constantly Reconciling between the me I see, and the me that’s seen;

Badly wanting them to be one in the same.

Always the brunt of a joke, or the angle of suspicion?

Will this now affect my behavior since when I speak, the effort is for others not to listen?

Should I cower or conform,

Simply except the place that I’m assigned?

Or continue to search for how to reprogram the grand design?

The goal is not to make everyone the same

But acknowledge that differences are not deficiencies.

Where seeing is not being,

Being, definitely helps with seeing.

With so much access to information

Why does the truth seem further away?

Deep breaths to refocus…

Connection over contempt

Building bridges rather than burning them.

Searching for Understanding over accusation.

Always aspiring to be inspiring.

Finding common ground in differences, sharing respect so that all things are able to be nourished.

Continuing to search for the courage to simply “be” myself…

It’s an interesting sensation to be constantly under pressure, feeling real danger at every interaction.

Through it all, one question always avails, will today be the last, if the combo for my code switch fails?

Deep breath…Breathe deep…

Don’t loose sight of the bigger picture

“Stay woke”, aka, “don’t sleep”.

Beauty is always around, just need to be brave enough to do more than peek.