Ivory Skin

Ivory is the color of my delicate skin

But below the surface, lies a struggle within

From a Filipino father, and an Irish mother it seems

An amalgamation of cultures, and features, and dreams

Romanticizing this hue evokes thoughts of silk and lace

But to me this shade tells a poignant story of race

Of acceptance, of struggle, of the journey taking place

Of the joy and hurt projected on this most indistinguishable face

Some describe my paleness as alabaster or bone

But the meaning of my skin transcends any type of shade or tone

Like an ivory husk, my exterior is resolute and strong

But inside is a deep desire to find a place to belong

Influenced, carved and molded into a variety of shapes and sizes

Wearing an abundance of masks and a plethora of disguises

Never quite here or there, I grapple with identity

Trying to find some semblance of belonging in this society

To some these colors may be associated with parchment, papyrus, or plaster on a wall

But with every breath and interaction, my color and race permeates it all

But as time passes by, I’ve learned to revel in being conspicuous

And to take pride in being radiantly, racially ambiguous

To find the ethereal beauty in being othered, like a rare glimmering pearl

And realizing this uniqueness doesn’t make me an exception, it makes me exceptional, in this world