Tears swell behind my lids
flowing down mountain-like cheeks and smiling slopes,
when I see the beauty that is us
Shivers of excitement run up my spine
When I think of where we've been
Pride straightens my shoulders
lifts my head
when I think of where we're going
A world falling down around us
we stand, center of debris
highly decorated --- in the spirit of Africa
We are a sea of black, caramel, manila, vanilla-swirled faces
against a background of white
and
We look… good
Real good
Beautiful.