Entitled "Coloring Inside The Lines"

My box don’t look like the others

They bought theirs from Walmart

I got mine from dollar tree

I am forced to color the same picture as them

I am frustrated I was never taught to be gentle

Black parents don’t have patience

They go get belts and switches

Trying to follow the rules that the lines of the picture makes

My creativity tells me otherwise

My peoples minds have been in bondage for too long

I decide to defy the laws of the picture set before me

Blending colors that society says doesn’t belong together

With excitement my hands move and eyes grow big

My smile spreads like Skippy

I hope the teacher says my picture is beautiful

Beautiful and black are unheard of combinations

Still my young soul has hope

As we turn around to reveal our pictures

The gaze of the teacher quiets the room

Her eyes seem to accidentally stumble upon me

She looks puzzled I can tell she doesn’t understand my value

One by one They line up to place their pictures on the wall

Unfortunately there is no more space for a little black boy amongst the snow white world

One day they will appreciate my magnificent mind off.