Braid

By Cheryl Marie Wade

I'll braid your hair Your hair Like a raven glinting violet in the moonlight Your hair As sweet and plain as a little brown bird Your kinky hair Your curly hair Your hair we can use to mend our boots I'll braid your hair Silky satiny Hair Your hair like straw to sweep the corners clean Gray twine to wrap and wrap around-- Remember Hair Slipping through fingers Translucent hair Imaginary hair Hair There I'll braid your hair Strands holding each other Not letting me finish Not wanting to finish Hungry fingers climb braid ladders I smell the earth in your hair The braid in my hands I taste your hair And I braid And I braid And I braid And I braid