representation matters

Tega Ebeye, 2T4 MAM

the first thing i noticed was her shy smile

from across the classroom 

i tend to notice shyness

or recognize it

like an old friend in my midst

even in the darkness 

today, found in the middle of a fijian village

volunteering at a preschool

with so many other volunteers

none of whom share our heritage

she eventually found her place beside me

from across the classroom

all of age four, maybe five

with round deep eyes

that open right into her mind

busy as a bee’s hive

she taps me and says, with surprise and awe, 

“you’re brown”

i smile and say, with pride i made sure she saw,

“you are too!”