I rarely write poetry and when I do I usually do not share.  I wrote this because my granddaughter had a project to do which included a poem.  As with many of her (our) Black History projects I am always fascinated by the people we discover. There is not much written about the private life of Ms. Zelda Wynn Valdes yet it is very obvious that she left a very powerful legacy.

ZELDA

Written by Marsha L Randolph

You are fearfully and wonderfully made,
You see the beauty of creation,
You follow the natural curves of glamour out of respect

You are a woman of color
You worked as if you did not care
You grew up in a time  when it was a struggle to be Black

You are known for developing the Bunny
You designed an outfit for her to wear
Your visions were found on the agile bodies of Dance  Theater of Harlem

You opened your shop in 1948
Your legacy of glamour cannot be denied
You dressed many famous women: Dorothy Dandridge,  Marian Anderson and even Mae West

You were a woman of beauty who appreciated beauty
You were a woman of skill who appreciated the gift
You were a woman of determination who appreciated work
You were a woman of color who set an example others should follow.

You are Zelda Wynn Valdes
You were fearfully and wonderfully made.

Written by Marsha L. Randolph – all rights reserved.