Olive and Brown and Black

Born yellow, placed under a light.

Reared olive, not quite white.

Aged brown, because of the Hawaiian sun.

Braces on baby legs, too crooked to run.

Straighten those legs boy, walk right!

Straighten them I did, and now had to fight.

The bullies, the words, the acting out, the beatings

The blame, the shame, the parent-teacher meetings.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" The daily ask

The struggle not knowing if this day is my last.

Grow and run, from Brooklyn to Midtown,

Kiss men, march in a parade, queen with the crown.

Run again, this time to half a world away,

Where true peace was found, and with me it would stay.

Can you really come home again? To the gray and busy city?

If you don't you'll miss the love of your life, it'll be a pity.

He's richly Brown, bold, and generous to a fault,

He is a man of the earth, the real deal, the salt.

Your Olive and his Brown make quite the impression,

Vows are made, a life is planned, and something else- too taboo to mention.

Black. Black and Beautiful, Black and Brilliant placed in your arms,

So little, so new, but will all the lovely charms.

Brown learns, Olive grows, Black learns, Black grows

And then surprise! There is more Black to sow.

And into Brown's arms, Black and Beautiful and Brilliant second edition,

Finally, a revelation, Brown and Olive's sacred mission.

A family of Browns and Blacks, of varying hues.

With matching slippahs, matching socks and shoes.

A family together, along for the ride,

A family together, with light-filled pride.