I refuse to hate who I am
because it is inconvenient
for you to like me.

I will not change my inflections
to be a perfect
reflection of your discourses.

I shall not hide from the sun,
so that my skin becomes
pale enough for you to see me.

I need not change the texture
of my hair and its “kinky” stories
for you to tell me, I am beautiful.

I will embrace all that I am,
a kaleidoscope of entities,
not an exotic tale of your redemption.
I don’t need you
to save me,
to see me,
to hear me
for I will make you
understand
the power within me
and the short time you have left
to keep me contained.

© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy