Good Hair

You've been good hair.
You grew with me throughout tough transitions
From breakups to scholarly ambitions
From mental hospital to job interviews

You've been good hair
I decided to loc you up
Because I wanted to embrace you
But you've been the one to embrace me

You've been good hair
I cried on you
Slept on you
Felt you on my cheek while I laughed

You've been good hair
You've swung when I exercised
Or when I turned my head too quickly
You've bounced with me while I made love to my man
(Feeling every vibration)

You've been good hair
I've watched you mature
I've watched you break
You were my scarf on cold winter days.

You've been good hair
But wondering how long would our journey continue?
I think I want a brand new transition.
But I'm too attached to let you go now.

You are good hair.

Only Words

At times I find myself grasping for syllables
Looking up words that are powerful enough to heal
But they only flake and peel like old skin
Falling to their grave without purpose or life

I look into your eyes and see pain
The way you look at me, it's as if you want to convince yourself we're fine
But we're not fine--
I've cut into you and there's no more blood left to be spilled.

How can one say they're sorry for sucking you dry?
For making them believe that their dreams were real?
When they weren't--
They were only illusions of what we wanted our lives to be.

I don't know where to find the words to use as bandages
To cover up your aching heart like a twisted ankle
I wish you hated me so that you'd be free
And I wouldn't have to keep searching for my tongue

Because every time you talk about your pain
I want to erase everything I've done to cause it.
But there aren't enough syllables, letters, or words
Phrases, sentences, or paragraphs that could accurately describe

My level of shame and how bad I wish you'd just leave me.