The Many Skins We Wear

By Angel Joseph

We all wear skins, so different, so true,
In hues of the earth, from every view.
Some are as light as the soft morning sun,
Others are dark, like the night that’s just begun.

Each skin a story, a history so deep,
A tapestry woven from promises we keep.
Some born of lands with the brightest gold,
Others of roots that are ancient and bold.

But beyond the surface, beneath what is seen,
Lives a heart with hopes, and a soul that dreams.
For skin may tell where we’ve come from, but not where we’ll go,
It doesn’t define the love we can show.

In the quiet of dawn, a skin may glow,
Bathed in the light of a world we all know.
But behind that shine, that flawless tone,
Is a story of battles fought all alone.

Some skins bear the marks of a life lived hard,
Of being torn apart, of standing guard.
Of feeling unseen, of being ignored,
Of fighting for voices that can’t be restored.

Yet, within each skin, a strength lies deep,
A power to rise from the wounds we keep.
No matter the color, the shade, the wear,
There’s beauty in every skin, beyond compare.

For some, it’s the warmth of the sun-kissed brow,
For others, the smoothness that speaks of the now.
Some skins are rough from a life on the grind,
Others are soft, with a gentler mind.

But no skin is perfect, no matter the hue,
Each one is a story, an old and a new.
The fair are often seen, the dark ignored,
But every skin is something to be adored.

There are those whose skin has been scorned,
Whose beauty’s been hidden, whose worth has been torn.
But still they rise with pride in their chest,
For the skin they wear is one of their best.

The world may judge, may see only with its eyes,
But it’s the spirit within that never dies.
For every skin is different, yet all the same,
We’re bound by the heart, not just by name.

A skin may wrinkle, may scar, may fade,
But inside, the essence will never be swayed.
The soul remains, and the heart beats true,
No matter the skin, it’s the love we pursue.

So, wear your skin with pride and grace,
For it’s yours alone, no one can replace.
In every color, in every tone,
Each skin is a temple, a truth to be shown.

We are all different and that’s what makes us whole,
For every skin reflects the beauty of the soul.
From every shade, every mark, every line,
We are a canvas, a masterpiece divine.

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Angel Joseph is a writer based in Gaborone West, Botswana. She writes poems that explore themes of love and longing, pain and resilience, nature, culture and ancestry, self-discovery, identity, loss and heartache, dreams, memory and imagination, healing and growth, roots and heritage, modern life and social reflection, lost love, regret and closure, hope, and life’s journey.

Her work was recognized in Rise Africa Newspaper, where she was named third-place winner for best poem with “The Thing We Never Say”. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading novels and poetry, drawing, painting, and doing athletics.

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