Ciara Smith, "Talking To My Voice Teacher About My Hair: A Conversation"

Talking To My Voice Teacher About My Hair: A Conversation
*in the style of Tyehimba Jess

your hair doesn’t grow,                                           your hair doesn’t amaze me with its texture 

  like mine does,                                                                                         like a hidden forest--

    I know because                                                          I’ve grown my lush greenery since birth,

         I had                                                                tufts of hair sticking up like cotton candy, 

                a                                                               sugary mimicry of the clouds. Just like my

                                              black roommate 

 in college--                                                                    who spends hours tending her garden. 

she told me that                                                  you will never understand how magic is made.