the olive-oil, sun-drenched color of my skin
the bones in my face
the thick, black waves of my hair
the gap in my teeth
the shape of my hips
These are the things I tried to hide.
These are the things my ancestors gave me -
the only parts of themselves they could pass on,
locked into my DNA.
And as hard as I tried to give it away,
no one can take it from me.

   - exotic