Publications

Hi, I’m AJ and yes, I’m Filipino The same introduction every single meeting The same “Are you half?” with every single greeting Half white, half Asian Half French, half Japanese Half white, half Chinese Half this, half that “I am full Filipino” “No, you must be half” I guess I’m a liar. I guess my features are deceiving Is it the brightness of my skin? My evident lack of melanin? The curliness of my hair? Because I don’t speak Tagalog? Or because when I do try, I have an acce

I hate to burden you, It’s hard to sit with, I’ll still watch your every move, I promise I don’t think you’re a dimwit. I see you stress yourself out, It’s cute how you worry, But your hysterics make me doubt, Why are you in such a hurry, You’re losing steam take a breather, After all I am the host, You’re not suited for this either, But the most you can do is not do the most.

I hit you up, You let the phone ring for a while, You answered drained. Another late night, My 9-5 is opposed to your late nights, Your midnight oil to my solar power. I’ll take the day off, We can enjoy the day together, Even if you wake up in the afternoon.

Not one notification, Nobody must like me, Why do I wait so patiently? Don’t be so down it’s not you it’s we, Nobody needs to write you if we’re spending time, Live in the moment won’t you? It’s the comparison that I pay mind, They’d rather talk to you, Your incidental friend.

I said I was a clown, But you didn’t have to laugh along. I was with you with my face down, Everything that you did was wrong. You’re dense as a brick, You whisper too loud. Your cold heart made me sick, You looked at me like I was too proud. I didn’t want to make a scene, But you set the stage. A clown who can't take a joke, Forced to entertain in your cage.