This Is The Sadness Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Mystified are many,
Looking from the outside in.
As to why people who 'appear' to be
Of the same race...
Would have issues of skin color.
And have those insecurities they hold...
From the beginning of noticing it,
Until their life experiences end.

This doesn't make sense,
Since they are all oppressed.
And not by those from other races.
They keep these issues to bait...
A self hatred that goes undebated.
Yet felt,
Although stubbornly unspoken.

And this has allowed a self esteem,
Defeated.
With expectations minimized.
And from their eyes success...
Becomes a thing maximized to beat.
Keeping them divided...
With a call for unity from the tongues.
But despising one another,
They can not seem to cease.

Mystified are many,
Looking from the outside in.
As to why people who 'appear' to be
Of the same race...
Would have issues of skin color.
And have those insecurities they hold...
From the beginning of noticing it,
Until their life experiences end.

This is the sadness,
For those without a dignity to pride!
Or an identity to defend.

This is 'their' sadness!
But not for those who laugh at them.

This is 'their' sadness as observed and seen.
As others who are just as petty...
In a system petty driven to affect and demean.