I Cannot Keep Black Skin From My Child Poem by Mervyn Seivwright

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him."
—Martin Luther King, Jr.

I write words of wisdom for my son worried the ink written will vanish
I tell him he's beautiful I tell him he's beautiful to strengthen him arising from fear
I share with him my wisdom contemplating my life painted out of fear

I surrender my wisdom say yes sir keep your hands in sight your voice low
I remind him to say yes sir keep your hands in sight keep your voice low out of fear
I write words of wisdom for my son worried the ink written will vanish

I share wisdom to him show each innocent black death video I tell him he can be great
I teach him to be proud I teach him to be submissive surfacing from fear
I share with him my wisdom contemplating my life painted out of fear

I want him to have wisdom find warmth in diverse friends
Reveal the wolf feigned-friend thieving having the law target my black son is my fear
I write words of wisdom for my son worried the ink written will vanish

I tell him to use wisdom find the Mona Lisa half-smile make it hard to read his face
Don't laugh too loud Don't cry too loud Don't yell too loud breeds my dark clouds of fear
I share with him my wisdom contemplating my life painted out of fear

Wisdom tells me joy enclosed in a wooly blanket his inoculation for hope
You are beautiful You are beautiful shaking him feeling my fear
I write words of wisdom for my son worried the ink written will vanish
I share with you my wisdom believe resist yourself do not live in fear