In which I no longer see my face as full of potential,
​by aris kian

​​You whole wheat honeysuckle, you. Stiff stem
neck with a sweet turned-tooth. High cheek bout hard
 
to swallow. Dimples-deep in tea tree, shea,
aloe and vitamin E, split bottom
 
lip, ripped rib of Adam, go on. Grin too
wide. Taste your pumpernickel chin. Tongue-kiss
 
a mirror like it looks like you, thank God.
For the laugh lines that gave birth to laugh lines.
 
For giving love at first sight a second
and third chance. For the as is and as is.
 
For the hours you spent angling your face
into an unfamiliar gospel,
 
I gift you a glossed and golden conceit,
go on. End your prayers in your name, too. 

Aris Kian is an inaugural member of Coogslam, 2019’s 4th in the nation collegiate poetry slam team. She is ranked #10 in the 2020 Women of the World Poetry Slam. She is an Emerging Writers Fellow for Writers in the Schools and is pursuing her MFA at the University of Houston.