What is that Poem about Hair???

Here's something else I'd like to find.

I heard a poem once about a woman who is washing her hair. She describes brushing, or washing, different scents and colors into hair -- the predominant theme is purple. The imagery grows and grows. At the beginning she is putting things in her hair that you really could put in your hair (like maybe flower petals) and at the end of the poem her hair is clearly a metaphor and has become capable of taking in whole rivers (or elements on that order of magnitude).

If I recall correctly, the woman is African American. And that's all I remember! Anyone recognize this poem?

I'm haunted by these two random things I'd like to find -- the agouti store I posted before, and this poem about hair.