Dark As I'm Is

“Dark as Im is”
A negro hymn
A song sung sweetly in the fields.
“Dark as Im is”
Beautiful.

Strong is my bones
Gentle are my lips
Free is my kinky hair.

Let dem stare…I don’t care.

“Dark as Im is”
The sun’s love affair is with my skin
Fingertip rays touch my body.
I am black gold.

And yet…

Dirty are my fingers
Harden our my soles
Sweat constant up on my brow.

Let dem oppress…I ain’t stressed.

“Dark as Im is”
A template of one
Whose eye is majestic.

Long time humming over
Cotton.
My negro hymn…
Freedom first comes from within’.

“Dark as Im is”
And deep blue is the sky.
Oh how I wish dem birds
Would give me dey wings
So Is could fly.

Let dem deny…I’ll get by.

“Dark as Im is”
Is never break my stride
Fer Is always got
My pride.