I ain't my hair,
but my hair is me.

I ain't my color,
but my color is me.

I ain't my materials,
but my materials is me.

I ain't my parents,
but my parents is me.

I stand proud, undeterred,
unafraid.

I am the strength that my
strong nappy hair possess.

I am unapologetic, resilient
and beautiful like my skin.

Hard working, late nights at work,
overtime, underpaid, over worked,
and tired, success on layaway
two payments missed like my materials.

I ain't my materials,
I ain't my hair,
I ain't my color,
but those things are me.

One parent,
Two parents,
Stepparents,
foster parents
Nice people I happen to meet,

I ain't them,
but they are me.

I am my path.
My journey.
My road.
My sight.

Glass half full, half empty
or what,

All these things are, I am not,
but all these things are me.

I am hope, I am pride, I am joy,
I am love,

I ain't what you wish me to
be,

I am more.

I ain't my hair,
I ain't my color,
I ain't my materials,
I ain't my parents,

but all those things is me.

For all I am

is Me.