I am beautiful

So I don’t understand

I mean on most days, speaking candidly, I feel beautiful

My skin care routine is top-tier

And it took half a decade to get to this point

The point where I can be more relaxed in my routine and still feel at home in my own skin

Where my face and arms and the rest of me is so smooth

My Werther’s Original skin truly compliments itself

A dark honeycomb shaded without one blemish that gets complimented almost daily

A gentle skin routine over pours that blanket a strong jaw

Beautiful, soft cheeks, and tender obsidian eyes that glimmer when I smile

A star-striking sight

Hair, so dark and rouge and intertwined into lovely braids

I’m so much beauty, so much kindness

And so much personality in a petite package

So I don’t understand why it isn’t commonly said

Why it wasn’t commonly understood among potential connections

Or kindhearted souls

As irrelevant as the question may be,

How can such a masterpiece be before someone’s eyes,

And be misunderstood so heavily?

Can I love the way that you linger on my tongue

Sweeter than any maple drizzle

More resonating than the most passionate kiss

But don’t tell, and don’t be mad

Passion is another feeling, yes, but I mention it as an act, a behavior

Not like you

In your own right, you are a “feeling” with a voice

And unique to any other feeling, you are logical, which makes your voice all the more loud

You, a feeling, a process that gives me peace

And cleanses me from the abhorrent

I like you, Reason

You always compliment me so well

And when you leave my tongue, you are hard for certain audiences to ignore, or reject

You are derived from the most knowledgeable parts of my mind

Making you one of the strongest parts of me

You keep me sane, you keep me gratified

That is why I love you

In your arms I find sanctuary

A linked security I can’t explain

like two unsure sloths burrowing for warmth

and bonding around a new haven

Falling into a closeness, a new rhythm of attachment

I welcome your warmth

The quiet it ensues from the raging thoughts it has silenced

The liquidation of my being against yours as I lean against you

And burrow my arms around your neck

The vulnerability it pulls from me

And ecstasy you derive from me just by holding me close

Oh, the sanctuary you create

When you nuzzle your head into the crook of my neck and breath me in like a welcoming summer breeze

By pulling me close, facing me towards you, and kissing my skin

I swim in the serenity of your lips, mind and body

And crave the next warm bliss I’ll get from your embrace

When you hold me under the wind-blown tree across the pond

Or snuggle with me in the comfort of your bed

Or even just to scoop me up in your arms and spin around with me cradled there, just to be silly

Just to make me happy

When I’m with you, the world stops

What a delicate creature you are, to give me such wonderful peace

A chameleon takes many forms in this world

An entity, that is very personal to me, has that same property

The way it can morph into many unique facets is endless

This being enables me to take in the soft air that expands my lungs

The air that’s clean, all around me and allows me to see another day

Part of this creature has my face, is a bit older, wiser and is who I call ‘mom’

Another part of it has an equal amount of age and wisdom, with more masculine behavior, and is who I call ‘dad’

It is mixing lemon-zest ginger tea with a detox formula of cinnamon, cardamom and dandelions

Reveling in the subtle taste of each herb

And noticing that the tang of the lemon is surprisingly overshadowed by the subtle sweetness of its cardamom-dominated partner

This abstract wonder is going to my sister’s house

Worrying that I might clash with her womb mate, my other sister, as I often do

And having those worries dissipate as soon as an intoxicating liquid touches my lips

And mountains of food make a home in my stomach

This hidden beast is vividly imagining anything from butterflies in my backyard to everything
I want Jason Diaz and Keith Powers to do to me

And letting my penmanship kiss endless papers as I let each and every intricate detail run wild because my passion is infinite when written

This sought-after figure is the beauty and self-sufficience that becomes me each and every day

It is when I see good company that I haven’t seen in years but become blessed with the best sense of reminiscence towards

This rarity is a family to cook, pray and share endless meals, stories and laughter with on days not limited to Thanksgiving

This joy is cherishing the fortunes I have been given

This chameleon, with all the layers it possesses, is known as gratitude