What I show you is,

Not who I want to be,

But what you want to see.

I aim to please,

Society.

They say to me,

"Be a tall, thin,

Long haired, white teeth,

Light-skinned beauty,

Dress like this,

Talk like me,

Walk like this,

Be like me "

I tried.

Wasted my life and strived,

To be someone i'd never be.

But ive learned to love me.

5'5, dark brown eyes,

Short kinky black hair,

Caramel brown, an uneven tone.

But im Black for sure, 

From my head to my toes.

Thighs ain't thin,

Hair ain't done,

Fat 'ole lips,

Nails aint painted

No jewelry on

Won't catch me wearing two-

hundred dollar shoes.

I simply can't afford, 

To dress like you.

Yes! I have stretchmarks.

They show where I curve.

Most shapely girls do,

Desite watcha heard.

And scars! 

Oh my legs, my arms!

So different than the pain within,

These show that I've lived.

I've suffered, I've grown.

I've learned,

And for all these reasons

My beauty, it glows!

A lot of little black girls like me,

I want them to know,

and this is a life lesson,

there is perfection

in your imperfections.