A poem inspired by the art of Nafis M White entitled “All In”
She lights up the classroom
Bright hair ties like flowers
Balls of pink, yellow and white
Some big some small
She wears them all
My fancy friend
Done up so pretty
Now I got me some
Wanna be just like her
Split my hair in two
Straight line down the middle
But wait, why is the elastic in two
How do I put this on my hair
Round and round and round it goes
In and over I did it but ewww
Maybe another one
She wears two
Now they won’t stay
But I want to go play
Want to show my friend
My hairdo today
They just fell on the floor
I’m not pretty anymore
I wonder how many colors she has
And why they stay in her hair
Maybe her mom can do my hair
Just like hers
Maybe I’ll ask
What could she say
My friend said I can’t come over
Not to her house not today
Her mom’s real busy and G-mom too
One’s at the stove stirring a pot
One’s at the table mending men’s socks
Her dad comes home late
Uncle’s in the yard he’s working real hard
I handed my hair ties to my friend
She said they can’t go in my hair
She ran in her house and came back out
A ribbon and an elastic in her hand
Gathered my hair all in one hand
Piled it up high and tied it with a bow
Looked me in the face and said “pretty”
Let’s go!
©️Lori Minutoli 08/21/2020
