How I Became The Sea

Mother, Her Name Will Be Iris

Mother,

I remember when you would walk by

Smile softly at me

Ruffle my outgrowing afro

And kiss my cheek

I would take a deep whimph:

The emanating scent of Anais-Anais,

The smell of an angel

I would abundantly put it on

So I would know

That you are always there-

With me

For me

My saving grace

You once told me that when you'd look at me

You would see your favorite flower:

A blossoming iris

It was an honor

To be your  flower

But most importantly to be yours

You once told me

That someday I'll understand why

I am

An iris petal

That is lightly stained with purple

But underneath it is white

You'd love me regardless

But I will never be white again

But mother, I thought

I was your iris

Mother,

My fear is now acknowledged

I understand now, mother

I was exposed

A little too much

A little too often

I am no satin white sheet

I have been tainted

By this world

I am no longer pure

I took a dip into rivers

That made me bleed color

Not purity

I took a dip into unclean rivers

And now

My body has distinct spots

That will never go away

Like a white paper, I was.

A drop of ink ruined my blank page:

It became a ripple

Of endless reminders

That I am no longer

A white iris

The world is abundant in melodious colors

That marry one another

In harmonious ombre

And I, a stained iris,

Fit right in

But I am unwanted

Tainted

But mother

I had a dream

A dream that I will one day become a mother

Much like yourself

And a fibrous image

Was assembled in my hollow mind

A beautiful girl

That looks like me, mother

A little like you, too

I knew that I would love her

Even if she was stained

Like how you love me

She will be my clean

White iris

And mother,

Her name will be Iris