Naturally Alise's Blog Poetry Slam 4: Hair

Hey everyone! First off I want to thank everyone that participated in last week's slam, it was very fun and the submissions were great. I love reading poetry as much as I love writing it. This week I hope for even more lovely poems to read. To tell you the rules for newcomers: I will present a word/theme AND picture. Write a poem (no matter how short or long, serious or silly) that:

Uses or relates to the word/theme
OR
Relates to the picture

Isn't that simple! After the word and picture will be my poem for an example of what to do. I will write a new piece in the comments along with you guys!

HAIR

My thoughts are nappy,
Yeah, at times hard to manage,
But they are natural.
Always on the move, no time for relaxing...
Coils that intertwine, each strand unique.
Refusing to be straightened.
Thick and stubborn, yet soft and beautiful.
Not clouded with multiple chemicals....
Able to go through brainstorms without dodging the drops......


Your turn!

Nappy thoughts

They Say...

*Baldheaded me*

Living my life by other people's rules was like listening to wack ass hip hop (read: radio) when there is so much good music out there that is not neccesarily the most popular, the poem coming up speaks to that, I have had a trying evening dealing with judgmental people telling me what beauty is and what it ain't, what success really means and what it ain't..... le sigh...... but I don't care anymore what "They Say", so I'm good, real good:

You have finally faced the music
Cut through the overproduction,
Pushed through the synthesized keys and unlocked your destiny
Swam against the tide of superflous watered down beats
Escaped the trap of snares...
Came up and breathed in the pure air of lyrics.

Unearthed what lie beneath and between the lines.

Found the treasures of knowledge in each syllable.....

Naturally Me!

Well since I chopped of the tresses I decided to post an old hair piece of mine from September 5, 2006. It is a hair metaphor for life, enjoy:

Naturally Me

Looking towards unfair standards of beauty

Feeling like fitting in was my duty....

But all that pressure was strand by strand damaging me.

Slowly breaking off from my own hand needlessly.

So scared to cut loose and put my true texture out there for all to see.

So afraid to display the natural me.

Longing to be.... naturally me.


But one day I awoke with a revelation.

That what was on and in my head was more than mere decoration.

It symbolized a needed transformation.

I was craving to be a new creation.

Realizing I didn't need others admiration,

I needed to feed my soul that was suffering from starvation.

Longing to be.... naturally me.


I picked up the scissors and years of insecurity fell to floor with just a few snips.

A sigh of relief quickly left my lips,

Walked to the mirror and saw a glow that nothing could eclipse,

I then looked and saw the beauty of all my features from my dark skin, full lips, and hips.

I now was at ease with my self image, finally coming to grips.

Realized this love for myself is my most important relationship.

And at last I was.... naturally me.

Bilal, "Soul Sista"