After the Rain I

Freedom comes on sunny summer saturdays

Maman is working

hacking a trail through kinky curls

armed with argan oil lotions

green blue magic potions

forever unfazed by what she might find

might have to fight

in the dense underbrush

atop each scalp.

mighty explorer that she is

she combs through her clients’ heads

detangling

personhood

from each woman’s thick mane

oversaturated with worries for children, work, marriage.

Maman doesn’t have a hairdresser

to detangle

her troubles and fears from

her personhood

she does her hair

in a rush...

in the dark...

just after the last client has left...