revolution.

Visual description: A one line drawing of Shuo's face on dotted paper in black ink.

Hi
my name is Shuo
pronounced like
a SHOO—and an OH
put together
to get Shuo
hands strike in unison
because
well
SHOO and OH
belong together
like cheery—and O
like egg—and tomato
like oxygen—and hydrogen
covalently bonded
sharing
transforming
co-creating
something far more wondrous
than the sum of its parts
OH
don’t you know?
how i refashioned a name
once bestowed from a grandfather
who wished to honor
a mother’s first beginnings with her daughter
just so your tongue
wouldn’t have to suffer
bending over backwards
hazardous somersaults
little…
micro…
scopic…
assaults
they call it
microaggressions
then how come it leaves
macro-impressions?
don’t you know?
a part of me mourns when your head is cocked
eyebrows raised in disbelief
trepid confusion
eroding
humble curiosity
don’t you know?
a wake is performed
when you ask impetuously
what is this?
NOT
who is this?
NOT
pronounced like “Shoe”
do not confuse me for what’s beneath you
NOT
pronounced like “Shall”
i shall let you know it’s
NOT
pronounced like “Show”
i will show you though
with hands striking in unison
it’s a SHOO—and an OH
put together
to get Shuo
just so your tongue would bend
according to my designation
playing music that speaks
to my ears
under my conduction
all these years
a sacred act of protection
my most earnest expression
it’s
my little
everyday
revolution.