Grateful by Traci Neal

I boldly proclaim my black purpose.

My greatness begins with being grateful.

I am grateful for my melon skin

which melts in the sunlight’s kiss

on my kinky, poofy, Afrocentric hair.

Yes, I am grateful for my roots

because it liberates souls searching

for peace like a riverbed.

Everytime I smile, my spirit leaps

into hurting hearts.

I am grateful for courage to keep

going when the outcome is unknown.

The results reveal teaching moments.

I am grateful for my family, friends,

and all the fellowship I experience

from familiar faces.

I am grateful for my struggles,

since they make me stronger and

then, I can stand in challenges

with tenacity. Watch my greatness

grow as I am embrace being grateful.

I am grateful for my southern

upbringing, where my parents made

manners the law and now, I live

by that standard. I am so grateful.

I am grateful for my faith.

It has been the foundation of my

gratitude toward humanity.

I am grateful for my companion,

my husband, my ride or die

because he has been there

when I thought I would stop writing.

No, I could not write this poem

if he let me quit, but that is why

real love is unbreakable.

I am grateful for love.

I am grateful for breathing

and believing in better.

We all can be great. It starts with being grateful.