fAceless AsiAn

I.

i was fAceless from the stArt.

they told me to love tick-ticking metronomes,

they told me to love sticky rosin snowstorms,

And they told me to love vAlse in A mAjor

becAuse i needed Art to fit the A standards.

in my young Age, in my nAivety, i could only sAy okAy—

but deep down, i begAn to hAte it.

II.

i was fAceless from the stArt.

i grew 105’s on A tree in my bedroom,

i Ate Anions And Adjectives in my vegetAbles,

And i beAt my gpA into submission

becAuse i needed Academics to fit the A standards.

in my hAste to AppeAse, in my rAge at “to B or not to be,”

i still sAid okAy—

And i hAted it.

III.

i was fAceless from the stArt.

i gAve myself blAck eyes for the grAde,

i served AlphAbet soup for the signatures,

And i forgot about my faith in Him And the heArt

becAuse i needed Ambition to fit the A standards.

in my rush to keep the fAke genius fAcAde, in my desperAtion for greAtness,

i forgot why i first sAid okAy—

And i hAted it.

IV.

i was fAceless from the stArt.

they sAid A lAwyer, just like the mother;

they sAid An engineer, just like the fAther;

they sAid A doctor, just like the cousin;

i sAid fAceless, And they sAid,

who?