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Ciara Lugo

Ode to His Melanin

Inspired by Sharon Olds


I fell in love with your possessor

I noticed you, his integument

If you had emotions I know you’d cry 

Over the fact that predetermined factors

Caused people to be microaggressive towards you


He used to be insecure about you

Society made him wish that you were less pigmented

You protected him

You hugged his soul and made him realize it wasn’t your fault

You wrapped yourself around him 

showed him the other souls 

The souls you’ve hosted before him

Westernization was infuriated that they couldn’t colonize you

You never changed 


Because of you, he was marginalized

Because of you he felt anything but handsome

Because of you he resented you and wanted 3A type hair

Because of them he was marginalized

Because of them he felt anything but handsome

Because of them he resented you and wanted 3A type hair


Why can’t they see you the way that I do?

Why did he have to suffer?

Why did they fabricate such hurtful indoctrination?

Why were you blamed?

It was never your fault


He sees that now

He sees you for you

You show your gratitude by trying to breach your top layer to talk to him

He isn’t very fond of that method

But he sees you now

He has persevered


He is my boyfriend

You are his integument

They are the ignorant






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