God Given Wings

By Sydney Green

Since the age of ten, I’ve felt like I’ve always known who I am:
a strong, intelligent woman

And then by the time I entered high school I really understood
who I was and my role in this world:
a strong, intelligent African-American woman dedicated to making a change for others

 So why am I so stuck on the words you spit:
nigga
weak
dark
sad
complicated

 The words you gab hurt, but
what’s worse is that I allow myself to be affected by it.
I’ve had to pick myself up from my complete bottom before, and
I refuse to have to do that again.

 I’m tired of writing this suicide note
over
and
over
and
over
again

I’m tired of crying because I can’t ever go through with killing myself, and
I’m tired of feeling weak because of it.
I have been to the center of this earth,
and was able to grow wings because of it.

 So when you
say nigga,
call me weak,
talk about how sad I am,
always reference how dark my skin is,
and have the audacity to say I’m complicated

 Just know I’ve flown beyond you
with these wings God has given me
and I’ve transcended to a place where
I only here the words
Beautiful
Strong
Unique
Happy
Kind