Lost

Abstract

I wrote this poem based on my life experiences and feelings I have faced being a black woman from a predominately white community. Although I had a blessed childhood and upbringing, there was always this nagging construct of being an outsider. When I was able to step out on my own, I moved to areas with more diversity and quickly discovered that I was viewed as an outsider from other people of color. For many years, this label plagued me. I felt as if my sense of identity would forever remain unreachable. It took a long time to work through the self-love process and to re-establish my identity on my own terms. I had to learn to refrain from placing myself in a box and quit allowing labels to carry weight in my life. It took time, but I finally found my way. This poem represents a piece of that journey.