when i was ten
i knew a girl with hair
as dark as a night
she was beautiful
in every way
in my eyes.

when i was twenty
i knew a man
who had raven hair.
he did not see himself as i did
so i whispered to him every day
that he was beautiful.

when i was thirty
i lost a friend
they had decided to end it all
for they felt worthless.
my words were not enough
for my friend with ebony hair.