Praise poem for the beauty maker

by Zell Miller III

The mystical magic of the melanated

It is said/ that our enchantment is shrouded in the unfurled coils of our locks 

Better known as our crown

Ancestors say / 

the top of our heads/ is the closets point on our body to God

With that said/

It takes an emissary of the creator/ to adequately manipulate and maneuver 

With devotion Amongst the chaos/ that is our hair/ and for the past 15 years 

At 3330 Manor Rd in Austin, Tx 78723/ 

At T’s Sharper Stylez and Cuts/

The owner and operator/ Ms. Toni Sharp Marshall is that/

Ms. T/ as she is affectionately known/ a southern girl 

With her essence magazine alluring round face/ and almond shaped eyes/

Normally/ that would catch your attention

but they play/ the Pips to that Gladys Knight smile of hers/

and no matter what her day is/ or her personal or family issues/ 

(lord knows we all have them)

Once you enter the door/ as she is the first chair you see/ all are greeted with that

smile and welcoming attitude/ U can feel that smile/ beaming/ through the phone/ 

The warm / solidifying/ that U R in the house/ of hair care

not just a beauty salon/ or hair shop / no 

here/ at this tabernacle of beauty / u are cared for and entertained / as she starts to excavate amongst your tresses/ the stories fly across the shop/ mixed with laughs

and good times/ but understand there is no profanity / or inappropriate mess going

on here think/ Christmas afternoon dinner at your big momma house/ respect and a

little bit of fear/ cause Ms. T ain’t having it/ sweet as homemade pecan pie/ 

but try her if you want to/ or mess with her children/ 

Ms. T will quickly remind you/ that she is also an East Austin Queen/ 

and that old East Austin/ 23 to be exact/ not this gentrified landscape/ 

called East Austin now/ at T’s Sharper Stylez and Cuts u get/ 

a uniquely southern black experience 20 years in/ 

Ms. T will give you what u want/ but she also wants 2 make sure/ 

that the root of your crown is ministered 2/ so she is going to give u 

the best products and path/ 2 make sure that your crown/ 

can continue 2 do what it do/ it’s a lost art/ to love your community/ 

but I have personally witnessed her change the landscape/ of young beauty/

whose mother/ had tried to break her spirit/ And after she got out of Ms. T’s chair/

the whole shop exploded with compliments/ unable to hear them/ 

or just 2 overwhelmed/ the young princess chin went to her chest/

Ms. T put that chin in the palm of her right hand/ and gently held her head up/ 

and said/ “we don’t walk with our head down, you are a beautiful, brilliant,

amazingly talented person, and yes it’s been tough, but starting today, we no longer

walk with our heads down, U understand me?”/ The young lady smiled/ 

and her eyes were wide open/ held her head appropriately to the sky/ so that God

could also marvel at this creation/ Ms. T/ is a facilitator of beauty/ and an Austin

treasure/ a diamond/ like her smile/ always shines in the old Eastside/ of Austin Tx

Praise poem for the beauty maker