Everyone on this planet has been told in one form or another to never judge a book by its cover, but why is it so hard to do? I remember one particular time when I told someone…(okay, okay…it was a man that had pissed me off) that I would kick his behind and not necessarily in those words. His response would have only made me more upset if I hadn’t of realized, after the words had left his mouth, that he knew nothing about me. 

      I grew up in a city where having a speech impediment might’ve caused you to get ‘da beatdown’ or ‘straight molly-wopped’. Think about it…if one of the neighbor kids walked up to you and the first thing that came out of his or her mouth was “Yo momma,  you were fighting?” Case closed! They may have just been trying to say, “Yo momma!” calling you.

      But, this guy didn’t know this about me. Yes, he knew which city I was from. But, he didn’t know that I climbed and fell out of trees. Or, that our gymnastics consisted of flipping off the fence in the backyard or that we hid the old mattresses that my mother had thrown out so they could be our ‘trampolines’. Or, that my mother believed that standing up for one’s self and fighting for yourself was a right of passage. In other words…’if you get ya behind beat, don’t come running to me…get back out there and beat the one that beat you.’ 

      Honestly…when I heard the words…they tickled the heck out of me. Right after I used some of the most gutter-laced words in the history of the English language; this man looked me right in my eyes and said…”Kim, nobody could ever convince me, not even you; that you would ever do something like that. You’re just too sweet.” Too sweet? Too sweet? Really!? Me!? Wow. I know more than a few people that would disagree. Fine; I’ll admit I’m nice…to a certain extent. However; here I was promising bodily harm and this dude was looking at me like I had butterflies and blue birds flying around my head! 

      Look, I know that we are first and foremost visual creatures. But, don’t let what you see before you turn your brain into mush. Yeah, yeah, yeah…she’s cute as hell; but, she has 2 boyfriends, a sugar daddy, and a special friend. Okay, okay…he’s fine as hell; but, he has 4 baby mommas, a rap sheet as long as your leg, and secretly likes boys. Better yet; forget judging the book by its cover…go rent the movie.  
 

Vision 

I was wondering if I could borrow your glasses 

I just want to check your visionary prescription

Are you able to see things near or far away?

When you remove them are things blurry?

Does this clearness go away and astray? 

I was wondering if I could decipher your sightlyness

I know that’s not a word, but you are truly confusing me

I’m curious…is it in the frames that hold the lens

What brand name is it? Dolce, Versace…maybe Gucci? 

I’m seriously dying to know…you can share.

I promise, I won’t tell another living soul

Honestly, some may not even believe a word I say

Just finally getting an understanding is my only goal 

Please… 

I was wondering if I could borrow your glasses

Maybe I could see the brightness and the destiny

Maybe I would see the beacon of hope and dream

Maybe then I would be able to share what you see 

Right now…I need to use your glasses for a little while 
For just a fraction of a minute, I need to take a peek

Look through your lenses with my own eyes; maybe then

I will be able to see what you see…when you look at me. 

Diamond

© Aug./2009