PRICE TAG

A small price to pay for fitting in

The scars on my forehead 

The scabs on my scalp

Hearing sizzling too close to my lobes triggers that ptsd

Tears and olive oil grease coating the face of a child that just wants her mama to think she's beautiful 

Am I pretty yet mama?

Like the Barbie doll blondes on tv?

Am I pretty yet mama?

Like the girls with feathered flat hair in magazines 

Am I pretty yet mama?

Like the other girls at school mama they've had perms since elementary 

Tell me I'm pretty mama

Like how gods angels must look

Tell me that I'm pretty mama,

That I'll finally fit in

Pretty enough for class pictures , pretty enough to get a boyfriend 

Tell me that I'm pretty mama 

Pretty enough for my first interview,

Pretty enough to get the job

Isn't it pretty mama?

Short hair is in now, right mama?

Hair breaking away at the nape of my neck

But tell me it's okay mama 

A thousand strands flat in the shower next to my toes

But tell me it's okay mama 

This flat iron is splitting my spirit like it's splitting my ends

But tell me it's okay mama

Even when a million whips lash at my roots when this perm starts to burn 

Tell me it's okay mama 

Tell me I'm pretty mama

Tell me the pain is all worth it

Beauty is pain that's what you say

Hurts more than just my scalp now

But it's worth it if you can tell me that I'm pretty

By Twanna F.