The Best part

You part your legs

I pull up a pillow and sit between em

You part my hair and oil my scalp like

Like we're tracing lines to freedom there is love here

It feels easy we laugh

And whatever's on the TV when I can see it you tell me

Tilt your head this way

Stare

Concentrated comb in your mouth

Fingers spread across my forehead

Tryna make sure that my part is straight

And we celebrate this little grip of hair I grew

Finally got enough for some kanekalon to hold on

Finally got enough grip on myself for you like

Like look what commitment do

Look what working with what you got gets you

We get a chance to lock eyes

And you tell me something like

Good heavens, you fine as hell

Smile

Kiss my forehead call me mama like I know conceiving well

A small achievement

But a symbol of growth

And you've been here since I was too scared of stuck

And I'd cut and dye my hair bout twice a month

But I took an oath to stop turning to the same ways to cope

I learn patience

Whit this process

Whit this unlearning what used to be

Enough reason for running away

You

You make me wanna stay

Face all my fears and plant myself here

And grow and wither and curl and grey

Through years of getting to know myself again

And again

And in each version of me I find in you both lover

And friend

With comb in and hands and oil for my scalp

Fertile soil for me to grow in and bloom my way out

I can't imagine anyone being so unwilling to love like this

But today

Well today I don't want to think about it

I just wanna do what people who love each other do

While loving each other

You feel so good to touch

You feel so good to lean upon and trust in

Who got faith in me who got faith in love

Like Moses who parts the Red Sea

But your staff be rat thooth comb and finger and My God

I would follow you 40 years to the promise land

Willing to get there

Hand in hand you hum

Whatever song is on your heart

Whatever gospel good news of God

Snap rubber band in between your teeht

And just like all the things I believe in but I cannot see

I know that you are there

I feel what you are doing

I trust in every carve that you create

On the surface of my skull

So when someone with mockery

More than curiosity on their breath

Dares more than cares to ask me

So what do women who love women do

I will tell them this story about you

My lover parts their legs

And I pull up a pillow and sit between em

Parts my hair and oils my scalp like

We tracing lines

To freedom