Before I Was Alive

By Shaina Cintron

Before I knew myself,

I knew to stay quiet in a room 

Full of strangers.

Because my energy was to be muted.

Before I knew myself, 

I knew to chase paper

Without knowing its origin

Or 

How it is used to keep us in chains.

Before I knew myself,

I knew the darkness of the ones who birthed me

By two colors

Black and blue.

Before I knew myself, 

I knew through my DNA

I was considered non-human, 

But a piece to lay with.

Before I knew myself,

I knew that those in position to tell us who we are

Were never in position of knowing 

Who we are.

Before I knew myself, 

I knew 

The fire 

The death 

And fury 

It took for me to get here.

By Shaina Cintron