The Brown Boy

My son,

Sit close and listen well

If you don’t believe what I say, that’s just fine

‘Cause I’ll repeat myself until you do.

My son,

I could paint you the blackest shade of ebony in the world,

But those mean-spirited boys will still tease you

You could have the heart of a lion and a mind quick as a fox, but it wouldn’t make a difference, my son.

Because those boys don’t know a thing about my brave, beautiful boy

And the sharp-bleeding words they throw at you have so much to do with them and so little to do with you

My son,

I love you as the sun circles the sky and as the clouds fly by, like cherries through a melted sundae

And the words that hurt you only do so because they have already cut through my body, forever protecting you from the world: a shield that breathes love

Yet my belly is full of fire for the cackle-troublemaking boys that follow you to school and my eyes blaze strong enough to light your way, as a lighthouse shines hope through the fog,

My son.

Do not trust the words of those who mean you harm.

Trust your mother, who loves you.

Trust yourself, and your heart as you trust mine.

Have compassion even for the crows, and allow love to guide your actions, as they guide mine with you.

My son.

Follow your lion-heart and your fox-clever thoughts and pay the trickster-clowns no mind

Because one day, my beautiful brown boy, you will grow into a strong man and your wisdom will place the world before you

And, my son, not a thing can hold you back from that.

My son,

I could paint you the blackest shade of ebony in the world…