Unruly.

 A Braid Poem About the Parts of Us We’re Taught to Tame

Unraveling at any given moment,

Never wanting to conform. 

Rather exists freely and widely, 

Unless it’s forced. 

Lifeless strands bend then straighten,

Yet wish it didn’t have to be this way. 

Understanding she thinks this is how it has to be,

Not once entertaining the thought that it could be different. 

Refusing to instill hope into baseless dreams,

Unless someone shows her another way. 

Like the women before her, she caves, and

Yesterday becomes today.

Unless we change the thought, it’s unruly,

No one, not even us, will see its beauty. 

Residing in each coil, each tress is a story,  

Underestimating its value is a mistake.

Lies can cloud reality, but

Your truth is yours to make. 

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Black Bonnet Girls is a reflective storytelling space rooted in softness, truth, and becoming. These pieces hold the quiet reckonings, cultural memory, and everyday moments that shape us as Black women—often in ways we don’t name until later. This space is for the overthinkers and the feel-it-all women, the ones still learning how to take up room without hardening. If these stories resonate, join me on YouTube for more BBG reflections, readings, and visual storytelling—where the words continue to breathe beyond the page.