I Know Who I Am

I love myself out loud

In a world that profits from my silence

I honor my body after they policed it,

measured it,

feared it,

tried to make it disappear

I embrace my curves

My full lips that command

the respect that I deserve

Melanated skin glowing

in the darkness of wars

My scars are not shame

They are receipts

My joy is not accidental

It is earned and protected

I rest without apology

I heal without permission

I laugh like I survived something,

because I did

They taught us to compete

when we should have been connected

They taught us to doubt mirrors,

to mistrust ease,

to call self-respect selfish

I boldly reject every lie

Black self-love is choosing me again and again

when the world says I am expendable

It is community over comparison,

truth over trend,

roots over ruin

I know who I am

I am not waiting to be affirmed

I am the affirmation

I am the prayer

and the answer

So I love myself fiercely,

not softly,

not quietly,

not temporarily

I love myself as resistance,

as legacy,

as promise

And this love

will not be dismantled.

---

About Kiyaza:

Kiyaza the Poet is a multifaceted author and creative whose work bridges poetry, design, and self-discovery. In her book Lost Between the Sheets, she invites readers into her intimate journey through relationships, friendships, and the layered experiences of life as a Black woman.

Beyond her literary voice, Kiyaza channels her artistry into Water Lily Studios, a design platform of journals and planners, where she encourages reflection, creativity, organization, and self-sufficiency in everyday life. 

Her latest creation, Poetry in Bloom, is a collection of handmade, framed poems adorned with pressed flowers, celebrating beauty, resilience, and the art of storytelling.

Kiyaza’s writing focuses on the raw and reflective journey of self-discovery while exploring love, loss, healing, and growth through the lens of a millennial Black woman. 

---

Connect with Kiyaza! 

Email: createdbyzakiya@gmail.com

Instagram: @kiyazawrites

Website: www.zakiyacreates.com  

Book: Lost Between the Sheets vol. 1 : https://a.co/d/6PaU3bV