“yo’ head is so damn nappy” dat’s whut folk’ youse tuh say “kitchen’s fo’ homes not fo’ domes ’dose hairs on yo’ head ’spose tuh smoothly lay” dat’s whut folk’ youse tuh say got’s yo’ nerves tuh’ be judgin’ wid’ dat brown paper bag “’dose hairs on yo’ head ’spose tuh smoo th ly lay” why’s yo’ nose so wide? “ah’s reckon ’stensions of fam’ly ties” got’s yo’ nerves tuh’ be judgin’ wid’ dat brown paper bag de’ whole map of Africa is spread ’cross yo face “chile’ why’s yo’ nose so wide?” ah’s reckon ’stensions of fam’ly ties it’s mo’ obvious den’ duh kinks in uh’ swine’s angry hide “de’ whole map of Africa is spread ’cross yo face chile’ ah’s kin heah yo’ strands of Black blood drippin’ outside” it’s mo’ obvious den’ duh kinks in uh’ swine’s angry hide ah’s shulda knowed naps offends Blacks “ah’s kin heah yo’ strands of Black blood drippin’ outside yo’ head is so damn n a p p y” ah’s shulda knowed naps offends Blacks “’dose hairs on yo’ head ’spose tuh s m o o t h l y lay”
Kenny Fame is the winner of The Tenth Annual Black Writers Conference Poetry Writing Award. He lives in New York City.
Steel Toe Review 