"My Hair" by Juanita Rey

My Hair

My hair was a church once
with my face for a grinning altar.
Then it was a garden, though
for all my pruning and watering,
it would only ever grow the one color.
For a time, it was a playground
with fingers running through it
like little children goofing away
on the slides and swings.
Then it became synonymous
with my womanhood.
It got me noticed
when I really needed noticing.
Then there were the times
when people said, “Love your hair.”
It was a comment
but I took it as an instruction.

juanita rey

Juanita Rey is a Dominican poet, who has been in the U.S. for five years. Her work has been published in Mixed Mag, The Mantle, and The Art Of Everyone. 

Headshot: Clive Easterwood

Photo Credit: Staff