Brown girl walks into the ocean

tentacles reach

drag her down bellow the sand

against the tide

she walks against the current

pushing

at her hips at her legs at her feet

trying to change her direction.

Brown girl is asked

if she's Muslim

if she hangs carpets on her walls

if she wears a hijab

if she's new to the country

if she worships a God

-she says no

Brown girl is washed to the side

off onto the shore

covered in sand covered in dirt

Brown girl tiptoes the perimeter

staying on the outside

not wanting to be on the in

Brown girl tries her best to be

unexpected

to break stereotypes

to drain accusations

to drown oppression

she never fit in.