YOU ARE 

Little girl  

You are still pretty

Even if you aren’t a size two

You still have good hair

Even if the slightest water

Gives you the curliest of curls

Your hair doesn’t have to be “bone straight” Brazilian or Peruvian

Your thighs may be thick

Or you can be petite

Just be you, baby girl

You are all you need

You are enough

You are beautiful

You are worthy

You are deserving

So what if you can’t take tiny model pictures

Find what you can do best

Be your best you

Not the best world version of you

You don’t need a ring on your finger

Or a baby on your hip

To feel accomplished

You don’t even need degrees

Hanging on your wall

Set goals for yourself

And tackle them one at a time

That’s when you should feel most accomplished 

You don’t have to be popular

Or liked by the world

Just be you

Be kind to others

As you’d like them to be to you

Find who you are

Not what the world thinks you should be

Don’t let society standards limit you

Society has a way of always marking places and territory

So some can feel inferior and others superior

Follow your heart

And If you’ve got religion

Follow what Jesus would do

What HE would say

Let HIM lead your way

Always remember

In this ever daunting place

You are all you need

You are enough

You are beautiful

You are worthy

You are deserving

You deserve every good thing this world has to offer It is up to you

Reach for the stars

Grab as many as you can

And don’t forget to pay it forward

Light the path for others behind you 

Don’t be fooled, your rich chocolate pigment is delightful

Your caramel tone is flawless.

Skin tone doesn’t determine your worth you do

Always keep the price high

Head lifted towards the sky

Following the path, your ancestors paved.

Beautiful little girl

Shanell Monique