A poem is like a song.

I have the best poem ever to share.
My lovely new latina friend read it today.
Beautiful.
So beautiful.
 
"Why am I so brown?" 
by Trinidad Sanchez, jr.
for Raquel Guerrero
A question Chicanitas sometimes ask
while others wonder: Why is the sky blue
or the grass so green?

Why am I so Brown?

God made you brown, mi'ja
color bronce--color of your raza
connecting you to your raices,
your story/historia
as you begin moving towards your future.

God made you brown, mi'ja
color bronce, beautiful/strong,
reminding you of the goodness
de tu mama, de tus abuelas
y tus antepasados.

God made you brown, mi'ja
to wear as a crown for you are royalty--
a princess, la raza nueva,
the people of the sun.

It is the color of Chicana women--
leaders/madres of Chicano warriors
luchando por la paz y la dignidad
de la justicia de la nacion, Aztlan!

God wants you to understand...brown
is not a color...it is:
a state of being a very human texture
alive and full of song, celebrating--
dancing to the new world
which is for everyone...

Finally, mi'ja
God made you brown
because is it one of HER favorite colors!