You say
I'm proud of my kinks ?
Kinks don't even
sound right.
Tight,
black,
curly.
Needin' grease.
I'm proud of these kinks ?

You say,
I'm glad I have dreads ?
Then why then
do they call them dreads ?
Long,
heavy,
strong.
Wantin' water.
I'm glad I have dreads ?


You say,
I'm blessed I have braids ?
Are they never ending, determined.
Resistant,
creative,
impregnable.
With some beads.
I'm blessed I have braids ?

35
You say,
it's thrilling to have naps ?
Fingers cannot run through.
Taut,
firm,
hardy.
Keeping heat from the head.
I'm thrilled to have naps ?

You say,
now, I'm nothing,
if that's true .
But, if my crown reflects
who I am.
I'm rugged,
and strong,
black,
curly,
long.
Heavy,
resistant,
creative,
taut.
Impregnable,
and firm.
This hardy head of mine,
is my crown.
Is my crown.
Is my crown of glory,
here,
since the beginning of time.

And you can't wear it.

KINKS by Terri Allen, Copyright 1995 © Thelamaque Associates, L.L.C.


Terri wrote this poem as a tribute to her childhood days, when she spent her Saturday mornings sitting in the beauty shop. She lovingly remembers the smell of burning hair.

Click the website to read more poems.

Books available at www.thelemaquepublishing.com.