beauty secrets

my curls look better

day two or day three

if you ask me any wash weekend

by then

coconut oil has seeped in,

moisturized scalp,

softened skin

naturally sweet and unrefined

like my southern twang

each loc

becomes a twist

demanding of attention

no matter the room

my curls enter,

siphon power,

grow in size,

strengthen

though adorned

by unsolicited opinion

my curls spark

hushed conversation

making me a person of intrigue,

creating friction

for those who detest

my natural volume

my curls have a press problem

despise humidity

crave self-expression

my curls have a tendency

to generate lessons

in the art of patience

my curls tend to be a bit high maintenance

like to get involved politically

despite their better judgment

my curls capture

essence,

build character,

offer grace

few need proceed with caution

warning: you can look, but do not touch my locs, ’cause

my curls stress,

recoil if over-caressed

—a trigger response,

lingering stares

marry smart remarks,

micro aggressions—indeed

look like questioning faces,

exclaiming to relate

my curls aren‘t an option

always take the cake,

never go unnoticed,

insatiable 4c

reformed by recognition

they lookin’

but they don’t see me

see them faking interest

they don’t know me,

my roots or heritage

yet they counter culture,

single me out,

try to box me in,

mute my terra cotta tones

in exchange for less melanin

less mixed reviews

they want me off-black

conformed to fit

they want me whitewashed

say i need an extra rinse

but

my curls look better natural,

finger-combed,

and air-dried,

than chemically treated

my wave pattern custom

my dna weaved it

my curls are genetic

history repeated