Life and Other Stuff

She comes in the room,
Hair a blaze.
A rats nest,
A crazy maze.

They bounce,
And they flutter.
Filled with light,
Making the whole world shudder.

People straighten,
And brush.
Hiding before society’s eyes,
Refusing the discovery how to rise.

Coils and curls galore,
Frizzy and tangled,
A head of hair so strangled,
Dull and decrepit,
A burden.

Mask the natural,
Redo and Revise.
Don’t let them see,
What a surprise!

Day after day,
Pieces torn,
Begins with a brush,
Ends with a hush.

But with a little bit of conditioner,
Just a speck of moisture.
Suddenly the whole world is your oyster!

It begins with a boing,
Transforms into an inner light.
No more a fight,
The war has been won,
The torture is undone.

Embrace the curls,
Oh let them shine,
A part of your natural design.

Unfurl the mask,
A golden pearl,
They shimmer and spring,
A vibrant crown waiting to be seen.

They twirl and twist,
Naturally bounce,
Feel like a lion!
But be careful, I might pounce.

Every section, every curl,
Each a story to be told,
A tale about becoming uncontrolled
In a world.

They stand tall,
Unapologetically bold.
For you realized,
Curls are canvas of true diversity.

Let them bounce,
Then them twirl,
Don’t be afraid to announce:
The mask has been lifted,
Just because you realized that
Every curl counts.

By Hannah Stoffers