helmet head



when i was young

my most precious asset

was my bowl haircut

gleaming like black silicon



like many asians

i wore it with pride

bangs contorting

in ten different postures

as i ran into sun-lit parks



but as kids will be kids

nicknames frothed

dirty mop

mushroom top



there was nothing more i wanted

than to fade into the background

with a fresh fade



i look at the label now

helmet head

and realize

there's no better skill than resilience

to maintain a skull and skin

so thick and sturdy