The Lies "They" Told Me

They said I was pretty.
They said I was smart.
They said I was the one.
They gave permission to leave and a smile upon return.
He said you will be big some day, baby girl.
He said makeup was for white women, while the color of her face mimicked my own.
She had perfect candy apple red nails and he never let me see him smoke.
She never let me cry over spilled milk and he wiped my eyes when it was too strong to contain.
He loved unconditionally, while her love shined through.
She wept and showed loyalty to him as I grew stronger by watching.
He stayed unchanged and integrity full when movement would have been more pleasing.
I watched as the male heir took heart because of who God is in he.
She never let us hit the ground. He forced you up if it happened anyway.
They told me I would change the world, that the God that you are would only let you succeed
...he told me to define success.
They said I would do it with fail.
They pushed me to recognize the blackness while not letting it dictate your steps.
I am the gift that they brought and they are the manifestation of our Higher Power.
They are the love, the push, the deep breath in and the exasperated one out, they are the ones I know.
I am who I am, not because of them, but because they allowed the God in me to run free.