So What Are You?

"So what are you?" A question too familiar

Years ago my mind would halt, frozen

My heart would pound. "I do not know"

I did not want to know.

"Are you Asian?" Your ignorance now shows

In a second your question drapes me, labels me

Forces explanation out of me.

I used to stutter, stumble over lies

Now I am numb to it.

"Why did you lie?" A child\s decisions now regretted

Lies haunt me, suffocate me. I am frustrated

Frustrated at my own choice to once

Lie about what I am now proud of.