Ode To My Hair (inspired By Raymond Antrobus' Work Of The Same Name)

• Oscar Carter, Grade 11
• Poetry
• 2022

A hairtie holds a bun,
not always did I hold myself
up above the head
so consciously, everything considered
and with time, falling out of the bun,
always needing to be re-done

never a hairtie tight enough
ever aware of every hair out of place
strands fall in my eyes
what is it like in the eyes of others?
perhaps cut it shorter
always asking myself, is it good like this?

Gel won’t keep these strands from my face.
And the eyes seem to follow no matter what.