“cognitive dissonance”

by Ashley Hajimirsadeghi

This is not the truth—

America

they say it’s a shame

I’m making / a home here—

This is the truth—

America is full / of cultural orphans / people mouthing / 

syllables / to a language / long forgotten / I grew up / on /

dog-eared photographs / of foreign trees / in black & white /

of house parties / with no music / just Farsi poetry / gossip 

about the newest diaspora / scandal / sour cherries & lamb 

meat /at the table / never learned / Farsi / just English / 

father was never around / they say it’s a shame / I never / 

learned my heritage / I say it’s a shame / to call myself this / 

what is a label / without meaning / all-American girl / 

mixed kid / assimilated / writes the next / great / 

American novel / I’m struggling at / making / a home here—