Wanted: My Girls

Amelia Bailey

Advertise the perfect girl,

Bouncy long, sweeping

Curls that shimmer in the light.

 

Drink in my dark coils, but he

Echoes, nappy girl go home.

Fuck, where’s my hot comb?

 

Gag the voices in the sizzling

Heat, to be his—perfect girl.

Imagine a place where

 

Jheri’s oil drips down backs for

Kunta’s Fro slipping through time

Lizzo tell me how I’m feelin?

 

Mirrors lie, but that’s no surprise.

Nappy girls, here lies your

Oasis under the desert sun.

 

Pack light on your journey my

Queens or the vultures will come.

Remember, remember children,

 

Still I Rise in Maya,

Tucked in wig caps,

Under weave tracks.

 

Veils of our own choosing,

Wild magic in our bodies,

Xenophobic ragers burn in

 

Yards of makeshift towers as

Zephyr lifts our soul.

 
 

Amelia Danielle Bailey is a poet and fiction/freelance writer. Her work has appeared in journals like Flights and Mock Turtle Zine. When they’re not writing, Amelia loves playing TTRPGs, making arts and crafts, reading a questionable amount of fanfiction, watching anime, and playing with her cats, Callie and Clementine. Amelia can be found at @janetheunicornl.bsky.social and @adbfreelance on Instagram.

 
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