Self Portrait: My Face

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.