Best Poems Written by Achiri Chabalala

If Only I Didn'T Listen

From when I was young they kept on staring 

They stared until they couldn't hold it ,

Then they burst into laughter.

Young ones ,even older .

They said I was too dark ,

And I listened.

They said dark is ugly ,

I still listened.

Darksinned and insecure,

I became .

They broke my spirit 

Because I was listening to their critism. 

Because I gave them a chance to critique.

If only I didn't listen,

Id be a different darksinned woman ,

Confident and unafraid.

Proud and happy to be me.

Not too dark and insecure.

Like they said I am.

Copyright © Achiri Chabalala | Year Posted 2023