​By Amaya Burke, Grade 9

SUNLIGHT ENTERS THOUGH HER SKIN AND EXITS THOUGH HER SMILE

HER SMILE CAN LIGHT UP A ROOM AND BRING WARMTH

COCO BUTTER AND A LITTLE COCONUT OIL WILL DO

CLEAR LIP GLOSS WILL BRIGHTEN HER SMILE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE

SHE IS MADE OF SUGAR, HONEY AND GLITTER BUT HER TONGUE IS MADE OF SPICE

ENOUGH SPICES TO MAKE YOU FEEL THE HEAT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO BURN YOU

THE NATURAL HIGHLIGHT ON HER CHEEKS GLIMMER AND TWINKLE WHEN THE SUN HITS THEM

HER HAIR COMES IN DIFFERENT SHAPES, LENGTHS AND TEXTURES 

HER SOUL IS BLISSFUL MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES IT YEARNS FOR ACCEPTANCE

SOCIETY SHAMES HER 

HER COMPLEXION IS TOO DARK 

HER HAIR IS TOO WILD AND NAPPY TO TAME

HER NATURAL BODY HAS BEEN CLONED AND OBSERVED WAY TOO MANY TIMES LIKE SHE ON DISPLAY

SHE IS USED FOR RESEARCH WITHOUT HER PERMISSION LIKE SHE IS UNHUMAN

LIKE AN ANIMAL

EVERYONE WANTS TO LOOK AND ACT LIKE HER BUT NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO BE HER

NO ONE WANTS TO FEEL HER PAIN AND GUESS WHAT

NO ONE WOULD EVER WILL

BUT THOUGH IT ALL SHE STILL MANAGES TO SMILE

THE SAME SMILE THAT CAN LIGHT UP A ROOM AND BRING WARMTH

THE SAME SMILE THAT WAS CREATED WITH SUNSHINE