hairy

a new strand protrudes from my once smooth skin. an uninvited wildflower.

i was getting introduced to my new body- one that left a soreness over my breast and malodor behind arms.

i snuck tweezers from mother’s beauty bag

& attempted to pluck away each new insecurity. unrooting them like wild onions in a once clear yard. mother hid razors from me because i was too young

innocence shouldn’t be embarrassing.

embarassed was the girl in the corner of the locker room. vigilant- of every eye.

glancing- glaring at every body to compare. noting brassier hues & guessing their cost jaundiced

of the sunshine haired girls because gold on their skin looked lovely- like decorative cactus protecting their fruit

i noticed i was trapped in never ending awkwardness

& black body hair & soon blooded garments

another part of life to hide another part of newness

a commencement of questions

& longing for her before her

Tatiana Bell (she/her), is currently an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington studying creative writing.