I look at you
I see your dark eyes
And your big lips
I see the nose that you hate
And your ruddy cheeks
That you cover in powder
Too pale for your skin.
The curves you hide
Because they make it obvious
You're not like us.

And I hate that you wake up
At five in the morning
To straighten your hair.
And I love your skin
That shines like midnight.

You don't understand
Why I find it funny
You can hold my hand in public
But hide where you're from.
I don't understand
Why you won't go in the sun.

You say
You're already too dark.
I don't understand
How you can be too anything.

I see how you stare at my skin
Envious of my apple-white arms
And flaxen hair.
Do you see how I love
To trace your features
So unlike my own?

You were so brave
When you picked me up
For our first date.
You held my hand.

Now it's my turn
To fight for you.

This is my love letter
To your curly hair
And your big lips
And your skin
That is so dark.
To your laugh
And your yawn
And your tears.
To the way you kiss my forehead
And the way you hold my hand.
I'd love you whether you were as white as snow
Or as black as night.

My only wish
Is that you can see yourself
Through my eyes.
And love yourself
The way I will forever love you.