By: Jakob Lindquist
Beauty and Choices
Her hair defies tradition and race,
Long and flowing, beauty and dignity.
Women glare and men fawn,
Janie gains power in her glossy, black tresses.
Piled and hidden under a rag,
Braided and covered, simple and helpless.
Women overlook, men dominate,
Janie loses herself with her locks bound tight.
Race defined in silky, bright tresses.
Powerful, simple,
Janie has choices.
Tail and Tale
Neglect
Beaten, Neglected
Forlorn
Uncertain
Ornery
Donkey’s body bruised
and scarred
Mind is not sharp but
fears
What may come
Ridicule
Men’s scorn
Yearning
Spirited yet
Dominated
Seeking
Uncertain
Determined
Janie’s hair tied up
tight
Mind is yearning for
The freedom to be
Ridicule
Jody’s scorn
Finding Her Voice
She can act.
Keeping house and doing chores
Logan expects her help
While Janie yearns for escape
She can act
She can live
Blocking out all the hate,
Jody binds her voice and spirit,
And finally Janie opens her mouth
She can live
She can laugh
Having fun, being herself
Tea Cake brings friendship and beauty
While Janie finds what she has longed for
She can laugh
She can speak
Moving to and fro
Knowing the power in her words
Over the men who think they are better
She can speak
