Please Don't Touch My Hair.

It's amazing,
It's beautiful,
Maybe its the first time you'll see;
Hair so dark and 'puffy'
As the hair God gave to me.

But my hair is not a commodity;
A thing for you to gather round and see.
It is not something I pull out once a while
Just so you can take a peek.

Please Don't Touch My Hair.

Don't run your hands through it,
Don't ask me why it act's like that,
Don't ask me if you can pull it,
Don't pet me like I'm your cat.
Don't touch it without asking,
And worst of all ask and not wait,
Are your manners really that lacking?

Please Don't Touch My Hair.

Don't stare like I am some exhibit
Brought for you from far away,
Don't mock the way it looks on me
Don't say 'I don't like the way it looks today'.

It's My hair
On MY head,
So don't you even dare.
You're not the one that spends hours
Looking after my luscious hair.

Please Don't Touch My Hair.

Because many years ago
My ancestors were put in zoos
So people like you could know
How our hair felt, and our skin looked
Instead of just seeing old photos.
As if we were not human beings
With minds, and hearts and souls.

So my hair is not on display
For your viewing pleasure,
My hair is on my head for ME
And it has worth that you can never measure.

It represents Who I Am
My Tribe, My Land, My Culture.
So don't hover around with oily hands
Like a flock of curious vultures.

So for the love of all that I know
Please DO NOT TOUCH MY HAIR.
And don't ask me why you can't,
Don't say it isn't fair.
Because would I walk up to a stranger
And ask, only to receive a no
Then go on and touch it anyway?
...I didn't think so.

Please Don't Touch My Hair.

This is the last time I'll say it,
I cannot be silent any longer
I will not tolerate it.
I've given it all I can
I have been very patient
But I will not let this continue
This I will not permit.
If you say you are my friend
You will respect this
Its My Hair, on My Head
And that's all there is to it.

Hey what's up?
Can't believe I'm talking to you
How've you been? We haven't spoken in a while
Gosh, I miss you
How've you been?
Did you miss me?
How am I?
You mean since you broke me?
Oh,
Yeah I'm okay I guess
Actually no I'm not.
I don't think I ever will be

Deep breaths okay?
D E E P  B R E A T H S.
Turns on sink tap
Its okay, I'll just rinse it off
Then I can really see how much damage is underneath.
Holds head
Its fine, its fine, I'll take the pain killers later.
After...I'm clean again, yeah, after.
Looks at arms
Oh thank gosh! None on the arms,
I don't have to wear the long sleeves again
Starts to sway
Why am I swaying?
I've taken worse before, just a few more minutes
I can do this, deep breaths, okay?
I've got this.
Washes face and murmurs
I should leave, I really should
I don't deserve this, I can do better, I can...
Lips tremble
But maybe I can't, maybe he's right, maybe nobody can love me.
What if nobody will love me?
Stares into mirror
No, no, I won't leave, not yet.
Said it was the last time, but thats what he said the first time,
And I...
Continues washing face
No I'll stay, its okay, just a little bruising
Nothing I can't cover up.
I can do this, I can do this...
Its okay,
He Loves Me.

The greatest truth I ever told you,
Was
'I Love You'.
The greatest lie you ever told me,
Was
'I Love You Too'.

I did everything for you;

You asked me to walk along hot coals;
To press the soft pads of my feet
On the burning surface
Of a path called fear.
And I did it, without flinching.

You asked me for honesty;
And so I stood before you,
Naked as the day I came into this world.
And I let you trace the cracks in my armour.
I showed you all my hiding places.
I let you shine light into the darkest caverns of my mind.

You asked for my blood;
So I split my palms on your sharp edges
And bled a myriad of emotions.
Until you were covered
In the colour of my heart.

You asked me for sacrifice;
So from the womb of my soul I birthed Love.
And I lead her, smiling, to the slaughter.
I watched as you lined your alter
With the essence of my child.

But no light shone from your heaven;
No words of approval poured from your stone lips.
Like the cruel gods of old you took from me;
Then left me naked, bloodless
With scalded feet, split palms
And arms that begged to hold a child that no longer lived.

And then, in the silence, you whispered
...
What Would You Do for Me?

And I replied then as I always do
...
I would do anything for you.

The box that you built for me
Is far too narrow.
How will I fit my soul
Into this little thing?
...
Ah I see.
I must cut it all away.
And force what is left,
Raw and bleeding,
Into those four walls.
...
I fit in the box now,
A little too well I think.
There's so much more room
Now that all I am, is gone.