Who Am I?

They tell me how I should look

Is my life an open book?

a brown girl, Muslim, in their eyes

but only in ways they think are right.

I dye my hair, I pierce my ear

I wear black with pride

but they say I should hide.

The media shows just one view

Muslim women in one hue 

but I don’t wear a scarf and I am still me

living my life as I choose to be.

I am more than what I wear

more than my skin, more than my hair

let's break the rules that keep us tight

and live our truth in our own light.