Locks

running my long bony fingers

thru these longs thin dreads

i am reminded of the who i used to be

and the man i will become

my roots

and my future

they remind me of my patient dedication to my dreams

they remind me of my inseparable bond

between my family

my woman

and myself

yes, they remind me of myself

my bond with myself

and my own isolated space in the universe

they remind me of a softly setting sun

casting shadows on a cool drinking hole

at dusk

they remind me of children

black children

naked and unashamed

untainted

cloaked in the warm gentle breeze

of a grassy plain

they remind me of music

a calypso hip-so beat

backed by the effortless rhythms

of an easy skankin’ singer

they remind me of youth

strong and unaware

boldly and blindly going

where they’ve never dreamt of

they remind me of the earth

filling my splayed fingers with handful, after handful

of the rich brown soil

locks, i am not ashamed of you

for no matter how many raised eyebrows

no matter how many odd stares

no matter how many up turned noses

or rasta jokes

or failed interviews

i will not forsake you

let them turn their heads in disgust and utter ignorance

let them cast unforgiving glances of spite and repulse

let them stare

let them stare

let them stare

and secretly wish that they too could love you

the way i do