Paperweight by Keana Labra

I regret the pretense.

—The smoothness
in which I present what is actually
calloused,

for myself or for others?
To alleviate pity or flatten
these goosebumps?

They are the truth
(What am I doing here?)
from which I cannot hide

(Why am I here?)
(There’s no need.)
(The cacophony.)

so I fold into each crevice.

Keana Labra was born and raised in the Bay Area, California. Knowing the importance of representation, she would like her work to be evidence that Filipino Americans are also present in the literary and art world. She uses her experiences as reference for her poetry.