Tag: but i hope people can identify with it

I. this turkey is testing
my patience and
i’m not sure how
many more times i can hear 
people ask me what i’ve done with my hair
before i burn
out. 

II. 21 years ago, you thought 
you ate too much stuffing. but
instead of indigestion,
you ended up in a hospital room. 
you said it felt like i was tearing 
you apart. i was tearing you apart 
from the inside the second
i knew i wanted out. 

III. you buy me a traditional
Armenian dress, mistaking my wince
for a smile. so i try it on for you all
the while wanting to unroll my tongue:
to explain that though i know i am
yours in my bones and my blood
and the color of my eyes,
i am also myself and i don’t quite know
where i belong amongst
antiquated pronouns because
i am not quite ‘she’ nor ‘he,’
but nothing in between exists
to my mother
tongue. 

IV. the headdress doesn’t quite fit
under my locs.
‘what a shame’ you say
‘what a shame.’ 

V. My tongue is on fire and
every word i learned in
Armenian Saturday school is being
burnt off
with my taste buds.