Bayou offspring, I guess you could describe me
looking back over my life’s history
Bayou offspring, a fine one at that
Too Black too be White and too White to be Black
Bayou offsprings, there are more than a few
I’ll bet if you look closely you’ll find one in your family, too
Bayou offspring, schooled from birth
instructed how to live with what you had and love yourself
chances were because of your looks
you'd be loved by few else
Bayou offspring, never ashamed to admit
your color had no real name, but you are your own person just the same
Bayou offsprings, as I’ve traveled, I’ve seen
is not just where your roots are, but what others care to see
I've learned to look inside and love the real me
Envied by some, hated by others talked about because my mother had White brothers
My great and great-great grand fathers both had Red skin
my strength in character I think I owe to them
My father, a strong and muscular man of Man dingo descent
stood his ground and demanded respect
even way back then
My mother the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known
GOD blessed us with her, but at a young age HE took her home
When I feel weary, weak or sad
I think of my multi-racial mother and my Man dingo dad
an odd looking couple some might say
I feel they were meant to be together until their dying day
Being who I am has made me stronger
I’ve learned to be patient, but stand my ground longer
As feminine, loving, smart and desired
as any woman could ever be
still, deep down inside I know
how most really feel about me
I’m proud of who I am and I want everyone
to know, I am a Bayou offspring
and proud to say so!!!!!!!!
Author notes
9/30/09 contest: Trophy PW
contest choice (X) The outsider
by: JAD (6/7/07)
Dedicated to my parents, grand parents, my family
and me!
In a list
A contest entry
- Anything Goes! by Jasmine Rayne.
425 points, ended August 8, 2007, 22 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - VARIETY WITH A TWIST by Lyndon.
1100 points, ended December 1, 2007, 19 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 42 of 42
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Beauty, strength and sweetness shine out of this poem. You have weathered life well.
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Thank you so very much for your comment and kind words..
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strength of character shines clearly through your words
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Reminded of the Following:
"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them."~Ps. 139:13-16
There's nothing wrong with loving self. What is wrong is loving ourself above God.
But when we come to know God through Jesus, we learn to love Him.
Then we learn to love ourselves, by following what He commands.
We learn to love what He has done with us, through His commands.
We learn to love us through what He is making us to be.
We love ourself, because we love Him.
Then we still have a love for self, only more mature. It's a love that is actually worship toward our God.
I see that in your writing. Nothing is ugly from God's hands. If we don't see it, or only see a part of it, it is because of our short-sighted perspective.
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Awe inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reading this poem really touched a place in my heart...I feel very privileged that such a beautiful human being considers my writing of value...I must confess I never gave any thought to what colour or race you are...all I saw was a wonderful woman with a heart made of solid gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and the people said AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...I am now looking at you under a new light...a very bright light...one that shines right out of your amazing soul....thank you for being such an awe inspiring individual...your friend...Dan xxxxx
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Profound
I loved this poem and your strength of character which shines through every word
Best wishes Lion
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!!!!! Beautiful !!!!!
I just read your page and this poem "Bayou offspring" that you directed me to. What a mixture of blood is in your past and as you pointed out, if we look close, we all have that. That is not what sets us apart, it is the love and compassion we have in our heart and what we do in this race of life.
How we handle the joys and especially the strife, these are the true measures, of one's life. It doesn't matter the color of your skin or the hair on your head, in this race of life sweet lady, you are miles ahead.
Don
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Wonderful
This poem gave me obne of the memories i have always held dear. It's of my most favourite song ever called 'melting pot' have you heard it? well it's really great and has a wonderful message. You are a wonderful poet my friend.
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I love this...the way you wrote it the strong repeat line...the depth of the story you told of a family history to be proud of, the strength you hold from it...the whole write is wonderful...don't ever let anyone bring you down or amke you feel less...you have so much to be proud of...
I am sorry to say that I live in a beautiful place with some very narrow mind people, so I do understand what you have had to over come by somes behavor...beautiful you are and it shines in your words of strength and pride...
Blessings,
mystic
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Well Loved!!
I enjoyed your story very much, it held an impact of emotion and love of who you are and how you felt about it ,
you could feel each emotion as you penned, thank you so much for sharing your history of who you are, and mostly What you are, you are a Daughter of a King most High Many blessings
Rend
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Thank you for your wonderful comments about this poem and my life... I really appreciate everything you have said. Be blessed,
Joyce
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very nice
This is a great story. Too bad that people judge by what they first think and not what really is in a person. I have met great people from all walks of life. Poor or rich, it's not the place in society, but the warmth of heart and soul, that truly makes the person. You sound like someone that has parents that are very proud. I'm sure they are looking down at you all the time! God has blessed you in your life. He has tested you too. Looks like you are destine for greatness and I think you have passed the test with honors! Greatwrite, The Shaker
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What a write of such strength and passion!! I am sorry you have been judged by some for having a multi-racial background. It really does make me think of how shallow people can be...
You sound like a strong woman who has grown to love herself and I think that is just wonderful! Be very proud of that!
I have also been judged a lot in my life for certain things.. including the exterior... human's certainly do not show humanity some times!
Loved this write!
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I took the time!
to try to get to know you. This was the one poem you direct people to. Wearing your heart on your sleeve takes a lot of energy, but that love is worth every second. I envy you the time you spent with your soulmate. I hope, that you find an eternity with him. My nephews are multi-racial. My brother in law is African American, Scottish and South American Indian. They have been blessed in not having to live in the judgemental societies of past. I wish you and your children the best of lives. God bless!
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LOVED THE POEM its great its kinda like me..
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This is an amazing write from an amazing person, which comes from the heart...I love it
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This is beautiful, good to meet you, your family sounds wonderful and much like mine. Congrats on the Trophy.
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Very well put
We all should be thankful to our parents for making us who we are. Very interesting write.
"BOO"
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The more we mix ourselves up
the more we become the same!
Thank you. I am an Aussie and we have all races and mixes in our National Parliament with an Asian descent person, Penny Wong, as our new Foreign Minister of the Crown, here. I, naturally, am happy for that! Wonderful title to bring me a poem with a real twist.
You, poet, are no racial marshy offshoot of some lesser river but a person of utmost dignity from this poem. You are able to repeat "Bayou Offspring" with pride but also with poetic control, echoically.
Thank you for entering.
Lyndon of the Winklings.
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we might be called everything but a child of God a world so determined to look to the outside of us; we were all brought here by the prayers and lives of ancestors, wonderful to stop and say thank you...PK
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WOW!
Between this poem and reading your profile you are such an inspiration and crystal clear example of strength!
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let me try this again, trying to give you applause
Kat
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Very Powerful Write
you did a marvelous job on writing this poem. Stand up and be proud of who you are. I loved these stanzas very much:
Bayou offsprings, as I’ve traveled, I’ve seen
is not just where your roots are
but what others care to see
I've learned to look inside and love the real me
As feminine, loving, smart and desired
as any woman could ever be
but deep down inside I know
how most really feel about me
I’m proud of who I am
and I want everyone
to know
I am a Bayou offspring
and proud to say so!!!!!!!!
thank you very much for sharing your poem with me.
Kat
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this is really good and i can see your family in your poem and its good
love rhianna
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I could see your inner strength and the pride you feel in your family shining through your words. Thank you for allowing me to see a little of what is in your heart and your soul.
Margaret
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Wonderful poem! Your bio in your author page touched my heart and here I come to read your poem you said and I am touched even more..you sound such beautiful lady with strong heart..God bless you..I am glad you write about your life and experiences and share it here with us I am sure a lot of us learn from it. Thank you!
AJ
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Absolutely beautiful
Very strong and inspiring too. It's an epic poem. A beautiful story. I love it. Curiosity makes me ask. Are you a Louisiana girl? -
Relevant and interesting
This is of interest to me, especially where you say that everyone has "bayou offspring" in their family. We may have something like that -- jewish and english-- but it has always been veiled in mystery.
Thank you for making me think about this issue.
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"Being who I am has made me stronger"
i love this line, it's so true, because anymore everyone in the world today is so, well, fake. they act completly diffrent than how they normaly would, and it really does bring you down. and definitly for you, being who you are makes you extremly strong because you are a wonderful person, at least from what i can gather from your athurs page, the poems i've read, and the few short times we've talked.
this poem is really amazing, there is so much in it, so deep and meaningful and completly true.
all i can say is
"U SAID IT GIRL!!"
lol! great poem!!
god bless,
--gooshawn <3 xoxo
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This is a beautiful poem coming from a beautiful person! I believe we all should see the beauty on the inside before we judge the outer appearance. Too bad everyone couldnt understand this!! You are not like other people you are very strong willed and encouredging so much has happened yet you press on! I truely believe the lord has given you the strength to carry on and as long as he remains in your heart strengthwill follow you for the days yet to come!!
God bless love, ~Ocean~
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After your kind comments i found myself at your page. I'm so glad I did. What a beautiful soul you are! Your strong and proud and I'm so impressed by your love of the Lord. So many these days don't give him the credit he is due. And being "Mixed," in my mind we are all mixed. Mutts from the pound trying to get by in this crazy life. I think your a beautiful woman and I'm honored that you would take the time and read my work.
God bless you and all that you stand for. Big hugs, Kelly
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Absolutely awesome....I, too, am of mixed descent...as are so many today... the gifts we carry from the different nations make us blessed, I believe...we can tune in to those ancient heritages and know things that help us through many things.
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This poem is great! I think everyone should get off their high horse and realize that we're all multi-racial and we should all be proud of that. I really liked this. Thank you for entering and good luck in the contest.
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A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN PIECE
bravo to you!!! that is the only way to live life never be ashamed of who you are or what heritage you have they are what has made you who you are today just as you said in your wonderful poem thank you for sharing it -
How good it is that you are able to write like this about yourself and your family. Check over line four - think you left out the word be at the first part there. Easy to read and understand these sentiments you h ave expressed so well - good flow and message here.
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I think it's really beautiful to be able to accept yourself and your family for who you are, even though it sometimes seems no one else does (most of my family is known as literally crazy). More people would benefit from taking pride in where they came from. You set a good example.
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I loved this! Very well written and heartfelt!!
The last stanza was my very favorite, but the poem as a whole was simply beautiful.
"GOD blessed us with her
but at a young age
HE took her home" -
Loved this.
The last stanza was my very favorite!!
Be proud of who you are!! -
extremely well written piece
nicely illustrated
really draws me in
and I grasp the entity of it
you had a great sense of imagery
and language in here
beautiful poem
I really like it
keep writing -
Wonderful! Not only did I view this as a very touching dedication to your lovely parents & grandparents, but this is a very powerful proclamation of self. I mean, you really went all out, stripped down and said, "This is who I am, love it or leave it!" Haha! Well, for me at least. Just a great job, as always.
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"I’m proud of who I am
and I want everyone
to know
I am a Bayou offspring
and proud to say so!!!!!!!!"
Yes, that's strong and I like it. Some times it's hard to accept ourselves when no one accept us but still doing our best is better than weeping on it.
Very moving poem, thanks for sharing.
~AS
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You tell it like it is. We should all be proud of our ancestors. At one time they shone. Now we shine in our lifetimes. GB
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