who am i?
who am i?
to be birthed
on this side of validated dreams
far away from a wall,
a fence, a barrio, or a movement
that must claim that their lives do matter, too
who am i?
a person of (pale and blue eyed) color
who decides when and how
to celebrate
her one drop rule
her mixed match blend
or when to melt into
a palette of non-identity glamour
who am i?
to be placed
in so many of the right boxes
to be placed
at so many of the right times
who am i?
what did i do
different than They
than You
but
who am i?
not to live out these American dreams
that will otherwise go, (rest)
Undreamt
who am i not?
if not They
if not You
they told me
to take my deserved place
among the limited amount of stars
who dared an entitled belonging
yes, see they told me
and maybe i would start to see
only maybe
(because i was taught to believe)
and that maybe
(because i believe)
in They, in me
i mean even they keep telling me
that
maybe I do
maybe I am
maybe I am, We The People
more than They
more than You
stitched, placed
into
Red
White
& Blue
my boxes
my stars
my breath
my beauty
my thoughts
my being
my i
my White blood
sometimes
Often
Deserve
need
Breath
Voice
Image
Safety
Place
Dreams
more than They
more than You
and me
and I
and we,
These deserving people,
Have worked so hard, (Goddamnit)
To wash away
This one drop of color
And those never lived
and unremembered
blues
