She didn't know she was beautiful, <br />though her smiles were dawn, <br />her voice was bells, <br />and her skin deep velvet Night. <br /> <br />She didn't know she was beautiful, <br />although her deeds, <br />kind, generous, unobtrusive, <br />gave hope to some, <br />and help to others, <br />and inspiration to us all. And <br />beauty is as beauty does, <br />they say. <br /> <br />Then one day there blossomed <br />a crown upon her head, <br />bushy, bouffant, real Afro-down, <br />Queen Nefertiti again. <br />And now her regal woolly crown <br />declares, <br />I know <br />I'm black <br />AND <br />beautiful.<br /><br />Dudley Randall<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-getting-a-natural-for-gewndolyn-brooks/
