Rainbow Hair

Illustration by Enid Mollel

I dye my hair every color I hope to feel 

Green for the vibrancy of life

For the living things all around me and within myself 

The sign of my heart beating my body into existence 

Even if I feel dead on the inside 

Pink for cotton candy, unicorn manes 

and the loudness I could never allow myself to be 

The freedom to be fluffy as the clouds above me 

Although the pink only lasted for a while 

Yellow like the sun 

Shiny, warm, ever-present 

A reminder to myself to make a dramatic entrance every day and end as eventfully 

Ethiopia airline socks that keep me warm at night 

Indigo for the color that never was

For all my failed attempts of purple locks 

For every green and pink and yellow that stubbornly sat on my hair when I wanted a violet

Reminding me that even in mishaps, beautiful things happen 

I dye my hair in hopes that if I can rock a crown of rainbow hair 

If I can visibly wear my colors out 

One day, these colors would bleed from my scalp into my heart.