You part your legs
I pull up a pillow and sit between em
You part my hair and oil my scalp like
Like we're tracing lines to freedom there is love here
It feels easy we laugh
And whatever's on the TV when I can see it you tell me
Tilt your head this way
Stare
Concentrated comb in your mouth
Fingers spread across my forehead
Tryna make sure that my part is straight
And we celebrate this little grip of hair I grew
Finally got enough for some kanekalon to hold on
Finally got enough grip on myself for you like
Like look what commitment do
Look what working with what you got gets you
We get a chance to lock eyes
And you tell me something like
Good heavens, you fine as hell
Smile
Kiss my forehead call me mama like I know conceiving well
A small achievement
But a symbol of growth
And you've been here since I was too scared of stuck
And I'd cut and dye my hair bout twice a month
But I took an oath to stop turning to the same ways to cope
I learn patience
Whit this process
Whit this unlearning what used to be
Enough reason for running away
You
You make me wanna stay
Face all my fears and plant myself here
And grow and wither and curl and grey
Through years of getting to know myself again
And again
And in each version of me I find in you both lover
And friend
With comb in and hands and oil for my scalp
Fertile soil for me to grow in and bloom my way out
I can't imagine anyone being so unwilling to love like this
But today
Well today I don't want to think about it
I just wanna do what people who love each other do
While loving each other
You feel so good to touch
You feel so good to lean upon and trust in
Who got faith in me who got faith in love
Like Moses who parts the Red Sea
But your staff be rat thooth comb and finger and My God
I would follow you 40 years to the promise land
Willing to get there
Hand in hand you hum
Whatever song is on your heart
Whatever gospel good news of God
Snap rubber band in between your teeht
And just like all the things I believe in but I cannot see
I know that you are there
I feel what you are doing
I trust in every carve that you create
On the surface of my skull
So when someone with mockery
More than curiosity on their breath
Dares more than cares to ask me
So what do women who love women do
I will tell them this story about you
My lover parts their legs
And I pull up a pillow and sit between em
Parts my hair and oils my scalp like
We tracing lines
To freedom