Hairs

Sandra Cisneros

Everybody in our family has different hair. My papa’s hair is like a broom, all up in the air. And me, my hair is lazy. It never obeys barrettes or bands. Carlos’ hair is thick and straight. He doesn’t need to comb it. Nenny’s hair is slippery—slides out of your hand. And Kiki, who is the youngest, has hair like fur. But my mother’s hair, my mother’s hair, like little rosettes, like little candy circles all curly and pretty because she pinned it in pincurls all day, sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it, is the smell when she makes room for you on her side of the bed still warm with her skin, and you sleep near her, the rain outside falling and Papa snoring. The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.

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I appreciate this poem because it takes a subject that is seemingly uninteresting, like hair and gives it life. At first glance, it just appears that Esperanza is observing her family’s hair and taking note of the special things in their hair. But as you look deeper, you can tell that Esperanza clearly has a preference to who’s hair she likes the most, her mother’s. Esperanza compares her mother’s hair to things with positive connotations, like bread, and rosettes. The way Esperanza describes her mother’s hair lets the reader know that Esperanza probably feels safe with her mom, and looks up to her for beauty standards. As Esperanza continues to describe hair, she is taken to a special memory, and moment in time. When her mom lets Esperanza sleep near her and feels safe, with the sounds of her dad snoring and rain in the background. So it is clear to see that hair isn’t just hair to Esperanza, it’s safety and sweet memories.  

I also love the imagery that the author includes to describe the hair of other members of the family. For example, a broom is used to describe her father’s hair, and because a broom is a common object in the world the reader can visualize what Esperanza’s dad’s hair may look like.