26 years i have lived here
grown here, my citizenship unquestioned
still you ask, "girl, where you from?"
it must be, i rationalize,
my features are not so easy to define
neither black, nor white
hispanic perhaps
does my nose ring frighten you?
what does that dot on your forehead mean?
	you ask
when what you really want to say is
girl, you just not one of us.