When you thought me poor, br my poverty was shaming. br When blackness was unwelcome br we found it best br that I stay home. br br When by the miracle br of fierce dreaming and hard work br Life fulfilled our every want br you found me crassly br well off; br not trimly, br inconspicuously wealthy br like your rich friends. br br Still black too, br now br I owned too much and too many br of everything. br br Woe is me: I became a br success! Blackness, who br knows how? br Became suddenly br in! br br What to do? br Now that Fate appears br (for the moment anyhow) br to have dismissed br abject failure br in any case? br Now that moonlight and night br have blessed me. br br Now that the sun br unaffected by criticism br of any sort, br implacably beams br the kiss filled magic that creates br the dark and radiant wonder br of my face.