My beauty does not

Lie in the hair

That lines

My imperfect

Skin

Or rather-

Beauty is not

Found without

My hair

Let me tell you

This hair

That I have been

Gifted with

This

Is a blessing

From He

Who knows best

So please do not

Fall into

The trap

Of thinking

That a woman

Can only be beautiful

Once she-

Waxes this

Shaves that

Plucks here

Leaves that

___

My dearest sister

You do not have to

Take off every strand

Ignore their taunts

Sneers and remarks

Remember that

This is your test

My dearest sister

I say it from my heart

It's not worth the pain

Don't fuss over it

Don't shed those tears

You will gain nothing

From it

I pray for you

With all my heart

That one day you find

A man who will love

And cherish you whole

All your radiant beauty

I pray that he

Will care not about

The strands you try to hide

With your abaya sleeve

As you shrink beneath

Their watchful and taunting eyes

I pray that he

Will love you whole

Each and every part

That he will hold you tight

And help you fight

This silent battle you fought

Alone

___

Darling, listen

I've been gifted

With hair that

Lines my skin

And if you cannot

Except that it

Is who I am

And that it is

Part of my beauty

Then I say to you,

I'm sorry

Because no matter what

Society says

This is me.

And I am free

From the broken ideologies

That threaten to break

Me.