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Peroxide Dreads (Edited To Fit)

dousing your non-kinky hair
with peroxide in hopes of forming curly kinks
and without manipulation
the matted strands
finally intertwine
except your Peroxide Dreads
don’t resemble mind
            limp and still slightly stringy
            they fall lifelessly across your back
while mind grow thick
luxurious and healthy
thanks to my Afrikan genetic imprint
my crowing glory
comes forth naturally
  Afrikan locs
  coils as thick as rope
  remain neat
  rinsed in the essence of rose water
  adorned with cowries shells, charms, and beads
  wrapped in scarves and knits
  these works of art
capture my attention when I walk along city streets
while Peroxide Dreads
unkempt
resembling
the intricate patterns found in cobwebs
simply pails in comparison
this obvious attempt at imitation
is truly unflattering.
  I can not fault you
  for wanting full bodied kinks
            more melanin   
            or full and curvaceous lips
for if I didn’t posses them
I would also be envious
  Peroxide Dreads
  I understand your plight
  wanting to belong
  desperately trying to fit in
  rejecting all that you deem as “white”
particularly “white privilege”
because it isn’t as culturally stimulating
because it lacks creativity
because it is artificial
stealing from Afrikan society since antiquity
  so you go where the
  ******* go
wear you hair like the *****
adorn red/gold/and green or red/black/and green
clothing and accessories
as if a wrist band is going to allow you to
understand what it means to be Black and living in a Eurocentric society
   so you listen to ***** music
            hip hop
            reggae
            jazz
when ol’ school beats blare
from speakers
you display your skills
and begin to pop lock
and the ******* are supposed to hold their breath
be amazed and give you your props
you attend every reggae festival
with a pipe
and a Bob Marley t shirt
because to you
smoking weed
is the only thing
that reggae music is about
   you are free to wear your hair
like the *****
go where the ***** goes
but you have the freedom of
never being treated like a *****
in the face of oppression
your lack of melanin
becomes a benefit
you are free to cut off your Peroxide Dreads
and forego your collection of Marley tees
and then you can easily be ushered back into
mainstream society
     you can just continue to
listen to that ***** music
on the sly
besides if you ever change your mind
           you can always adorn your disguise
           and reach for that bottle of Peroxide

Copyright © Cherise Charleswell | Year Posted 2009

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