We ignite fires
We flavor the air
But like coal we are tossed away
As if we were never there
We are reimagined
Painted flavorless
Emptied canvases
And relaxed tresses
Erased simply out of preference
An in denial of truth
Melanin features are uncomfortable
And oppressor proof
To be Christian and a woman
Catholic and Black
My religion is shapeshifting
To blend in with what I lack
Spewing mere opinions that shame
The wicked draped in robes
My impurity is to blame
For an image I can't uphold
For garments deemed improper
Rape culture apologists
Casual racism and a lack of tolerance
Embraced idolatry and worshipping politics
Are we supposed to follow this?
Discarded facts for vile rhetoric
In chosen silence we allow this
Shunning our neighbors for false superior complexes
My tongue bleeds from what I can't articulate
And my seething heart has rested assure
The definition of Christianity has been manipulated
From worldly standards of what it means to be pure.
Melissa Menny is an author with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Journalism. She is a poet and a writer in all aspects. When she is not working, she enjoys painting, music, and spending time with her husband and son.
