Artwork by Sone and video of Sone reading the poem
Self Portrait: My face
is allowed to look like this?
I count thirty-two hairs above my lip,
one hundred and eighteen eyebrow hairs out of line—
all of which I no longer pluck.
I am wearing no makeup.
I find no motivation to look in the mirror—
crafting a pretty face no longer serves me.
When I learned it was allowed, I shaved my head in August? June?
When I learned it was allowed, I dyed my hair dark blue.
I can draw on a mustache and wear it all day,
and when I wash it off, I feel cleanly shaved.
I see just another species of animal—a Homosapien looking in the mirror—
and I wonder how the human race arrived here:
a society that places worth on my face.
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About the Creator
Sone Kramer
navigating earth
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