Nappy (The Pretty Friend)

She was yellow 

As sundresses 

Oshun basking in rays meant 

Only for 

Red bones

Not for brown girls

China silk hair 

Black beach waves 

Not her

Nappy

beaded kitchens

Roots to grow high

Defier of gravity 

No eco gel slicked down 

sulfate-free

Ocean waves of baby hairs

Body rolls above strong cheeks 

Her red CK shirt 

Flat chested low cut

Boyish

The invisible friend

Until her loud mouth

Rude mannerisms

Interrupted colorism

Before her knowing 

What colorism was

Never the pretty friend

Eyebrows arched by the best 

On Columbia

Like backs on backs

On backs on ghetto girls

Hands on shapely hips 

Mama said her to young

eye brows fine

Flat chest normal

But to her a nightmare

To know

Too dark 

Too loud

Lips too thick

Hips not yet 

Thick enough thick enough

To do what exactly 

Wasn’t so sure 

The knowing 

That kept her up at night

Not the pretty friend

Cut off jeans 

And Pelle Pelle jackets 

Navy blue 

White cascades

Longing 

To be 

Lighter 

Like she a dream