My Sister's Veil

PREFACEMY SISTER'S VEIL (a poem)Toni's A beautiful face is never enoughTo guarantee love, success, and trust.Torn and conflicted by what they see and sayMaybe they're rightIt's better their way.They always win,So of course we would chooseTo perpetrate a lookThat will never lose.I'll just take it to the twelfth degreeSo it appears self righteouslyTo be me.So bury the mirror,And who you really see.And bury the hatredOf who you really be.Then it's easy to forget the griefAnd promise yourselfYou can becomeA respectableThief!Terri's Restless and youngWith nothing to lose.Thrown into your worldUnblemished, unbruised.Ready to grow, and trust and learn,But guns fill your hands before you discernThe value of life, community and respectA simple way to mask your intellect.Apprentice of self-destruction,A king with no crownFrustrated and confused,By the systematic run around.Yet a gnarly lesson awaits to proveIt's by your own handYou win or you lose!Tina's Abandoned and ashamedAfraid and unlovedI hid my painAs innocently as a dove.The Lord answers prayersSo invisible I'll be'cause my blllack and nappyEmbarrasses thee.If only butFor a genuine veil,I'd lose myselfIn self-medicated hell.But no need to worry,No need to fretTheir 'yaki' hair and blue contactsAre easy to get.Spare not a dimeFor value and worthDesigner labels and goldTo our pride gives birth.So strut on high, and lively, and proudAs you die slowlyWith a legacyBroken and loud!