Got2Be

A Poem by Sasha E.

Image Credits: The Cut - Photograph by Jeremy Rodney-Hall.

9 times out of 10 i let my hair speak for me; i let it tell my story.

i let my twists show you everything i’ve been through, i let my braids sing songs about how

beautiful i am, and i let my locs tell stories.

they tell you the story of the girl, poet, the student and most importantly, the dreamer.

they say things that my mouth wouldn’t even dare utter; they make me believe the things 

i couldn’t even bring myself to believe on my own.

they make me beautiful.

Poet’s Commentary:

When I wrote this poem, I wanted to capture the way my hair has always been more than just a part of my appearance. It’s a reflection of who I am. My whole life I’ve never really been completely comfortable with talking. I’ve always preferred to listen. But when it came to my hair? My hair has always known how to speak for me.

“9 times out of 10 i let my hair speak for me; i let it tell my story.” That opening line came from a very real place. It’s me admitting that, more often than not, I rely on the way I show myself to the world, to say the things I can’t. 

Each style I wear holds weight. My twists represent the things I’ve been through, the struggles and growth. My braids are celebratory. They sing about my beauty, my culture, and the pride I carry. And my locs? They are full of memory and meaning. They tell my story, from the girl I was to the dreamer I still am.

I used my hair as a metaphor because it carries so much emotional and cultural significance, especially in the Black community. We’re often told how we “should” look, what’s considered “professional” or “beautiful”. Writing this poem was a way for me to reclaim that narrative and say: my hair is powerful because it’s mine.

There are things I haven’t always been able to say about myself out loud. Things like “I am beautiful” or “I am enough.” But through this poem, I let my hair say those things for me. In a way, it speaks truths I’m still learning  to believe and am actively accepting. When I say “they make me beautiful,” I’m not just talking about how I look—I’m talking about how they help me see my worth, how they carry me forward when my voice feels small.

I chose to write in lowercase and free verse because I wanted this to feel honest, unfiltered, and vulnerable—like a conversation with myself. This poem isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being real. It’s a reminder that even in silence, I have a voice. And sometimes, that voice flows through every twist, braid, and loc I wear.