I was told it weren’t right for the event
I was told it was out of style
They said I was out of touch, and in denial
They needed a new person
One that would wear their attire
So I posed at the end of the hallway
As I slung my confidence over my shoulder,
And awoke young simba,
I brought to life their nightmare
Thick thighs,
Coarse hair,
Flamboyant bust,
Deeply engrained in melanin
He couldn’t come to terms with the ‘fro
He continuously asked me how it grew
And that confused him
So he wanted me to punish myself
Scar my scalp
Burn holes in my culture
Place chains around my body
Sit gracefully in pain,
So my roots will fall to my collarbone
Elevating my pride through their eyes
I strutted myself into the court room of his office
“You’re fired” – those words slid out of his mouth as he pop’d the top of his smile
He expected me to beg
Assuming that the word “why” would choke me
For my body to yern
My knees to fall
My hands to pray
But that didn’t happen
He misunderstood me