holding on to memories of contrast

today I saw a chinese woman
with bright brown eyes
slicing through her soft
smooth yellow skin
and flat face
she was beautiful
and exotic, graceful as
she walked past
in 17 short breaths
each one, I held in awe.

today I saw a negro woman,
her dark skin
like an aria to God
proclaiming the perfect beauty
of his handywork
and I near wept at the
rhythm -- the tidal sway
of her hips as she sauntered past
with the royalty of Nubia shining
like a tiara on her brow.

today I saw a swedish princess
with milky white flesh
and white-gold hair
rounded at every corner
with bright blue eyes
and her buxom breasts
proclaiming proudly
the heritage of her northern blood.

tomorrow,
I see only brown,
where the colors
on God's canvas have run together.