Posted:
Author's Note: Wrote this piece because I was angered by the way we treat our girls. At a community party (you know, with the adults from far and wide gather to gossip and kids sit on the sidelines), the topic of beauty came up. And naturally, they pointed to the girl with acne scars and tsked (who needs playground bullies when you've got the aunties). Then, to the little nine year old girl with dusky skin. And I nearly lost it. Colorism is alive and well ya'all. I saw it with my own eyes. So, here I go with an OS written from RK's perspective talking to his lover (Madhubala).
Brown skinned girl, the wheat of your legs makes heart thump.
And my knees jump, my legs doing somersaults to the sound of your music.
As you hum your morning pray, I follow the curve of your lips, the curve of your waist that fits snug against my fingers.
Brown skinned girl you are silver like the sun, golden like its slivers, bronze like the daylight and nightlight kissing the moon. Your are round button eyes are black magic.
Yes, they must be because I see in them a reflection of our happy tomorrow. I see my hand and your hand and our fingers intertwined like sand slides on river banks.
I see the crook of your elbow and my daughter in its plush. I see your smile shining down at her and I see her blush. I see my kiss on your lips, your scent on my coat. I see you waving me goodbye as you leave out the door. I see me holding your bag when you come back from a tiring day's work.
Brown skinned girl, I see us sharing two halves of a sour grapefruit. I see you planting trees in the yard as I sit by and watch. I see you dancing in the rain, a smile lingering on your lips. I see you running free with our daughter, your busy feet slowing down as you catch up to her. I see you kneel down to kiss her. I can feel my knees buckle at just the thought of holding you tight at night. The thought of waking up next to you in the morning makes my speech stump and stutter
And I can't help but mutter brown skinned girl you are beautiful.
So beautiful I can feel it in my core, in the breath of my lung, the song on my tongue, the water in spine. The hair on my body rises up when you speak slow in a sleepy tone that sharpens incrementally. I like you getting excited, talking on and on and on about the neigbour's stare or the rude boy who called you an ugly nightmare. Brown skinned girl know that I if I could, I would egg the neighbour's car and beat the boy's arse and wrap a cape around your heart so no one could hurt it. But I can't and I won't.
Brown skinned girl you are too precious to keep behind locked doors, too beautiful to hide behind bedsheets.
Brown skinned girl, I love the way you walk and wander from place to place to place. I simply follow your gaze hoping for just a minute of your time of the day. Brown skinned girl I love your smiles and your tears and the lines around your eyes when you frown.
Brown skinned girl don't frown. Even if the world infuriates you, keep it inside. Know that your mama loves you and I worship you. Brown skinned girl you are my goddess. My dream of a woman, as you stand before me proudly wearing your brown skin, I want to punch the face of every bas***d who calls you "dark" like it's an insult.
Brown skinned girl, your existence is not an insult. Your skin is not a tattoo to be laughed at, scorned at, or stared at like a caged freak. Brown skinned girl, your dark is powerful. And world is grateful to you and your brown skin.
Brown skinned girl you are dark like the night, like to dark of your eyes, like the kohl of your waterline, you are the dark that makes daylight. The dark that commands light, the dark that I see every time I close my eyes.
Brown skinned girl don't you heed to the words of the fools who don't know your worth. Instead, look into your mother's who stands on the side with arms wide open and give you a long kiss on your brown lips. Brown skinned girl, spare me a stare. Over here I stand with an arm full of flowers and a pocket with your ring. Brown skinned girl, hurry up and take me hand. Smile as I say the words I've always known.
"I am in love with you, brown skinned girl".
"All of me?", you ask like it's a prophecy, one that you will only hear once in your lifetime.
"All of you", I recite as I reassure you you are loved like love itself. You are loved because you teach the world how to love with your rainbow smile fuller than the spring bloom.
Anupamaa
Indian Idol 15
