I remember my Elders
Shaping my nose
Straightening my hair
Getting burns from hotcombs
I overlooked how much imprinted
Centuries of devaluation inherited
Infused into my psyche
The things I thought of others like me
This isn’t a confession to absolve myself
Trying to fit the mould hurts
It’s physical… at first
—
I used to be a hoarder
Of negative ideas
Of having nothing to offer
Shrinking in the process
Becoming less and less
Diligently…
I’ve been spring cleaning
Mindful of what I tell myself
Now sitting with this last pile of garbage
Ready for a proud demonstration
Of defenestration
Image by Kevin Schmid from Pixabay
© 2026 Ociola Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.
