She Dared Them to Define Beauty

When black is not bold and beautiful

Photo by Houcine Ncib on Unsplash

They called her dark
because she’s not a redhead
not a blonde of any shade.

Look at her pupils
from a distance
and they are dark;
get closer,
and you look deeply,
they are a shade
of brown, sepia
something coffee
doesn’t fully describe;
and her temple and nose
hint of…