QUEENS
her flat twist trraveled intricate riffs
patterns crescendoing
at coifed bun crowning her head
while #2, 5 train sped to Flatbush
Cornrows careened and navigated tracks through
sister's scalp to Bushwick and Bedstuy
4, 3, D L F A C Either way
she facing racing
Uptown downtown
Canarsie Coney
don't know she sporting
19th century styles from African queens
variations on motherland themes
where they get their hair did?
she don't know she Shona people of Zimbabawe
Sambura from Kenya
she belong to Bongos of Sudan
Kubas from Zaire
Somali women
who pamper their hair at night
induce and enhance their dreams
sleeping propped up on headrest
carved & crafted in mahogany soapstone &
ivory every hair and hope kept in tact
all night long
from Kiss It Up To God
-Nadiene Mozon