In Russia, beautiful eyes are said to glisten like coal,

but I suppose that's not the same as having charcoal skin.

America places a pricetag on beauty,

and if you can't afford it- your value is seen as darkened, like coal.

A sixth grade boy told Nyla

that she looked like charcoal.

My student cried because she could not see the value

of her bright, white pearls surrounding, dark chocolate coal.

I am afraid Nyla is sinking

into an almond sea as a lump of coal.

A girl who is not allowed to rise, to surface,

limited to be nothing more than what they shape her as- coal.