I. Be yourself, they’ll tell you as you wander in
Eyes bright, heart unguarded
Your possibilities are infinite, this is the
Land of the Free
II. Be yourself
Stop speaking like that
You’re in America now
III. Be yourself
Put those Legos away
Here’s a Barbie doll, isn’t it
Beautiful?
V. Be yourself
Cross your legs, lower your voice, put your
chin down
You’re so tall for a girl
VI. Be yourself
Don’t be silly
You can’t be a writer, artist, astronaut
Those jobs aren’t for
You
VIII. Be yourself
Here’s a page-long reading
On the history of your people
Write an essay about how
Britain saved your country
X. Be yourself
Don’t mark your race as Asian on that test or
You’ll need to score
Three hundred points higher
XI. Be yourself
Of course you aced the test, you damned
Indian
XII. Be yourself, they’ll tell you as you walk out
Masked and shackled
this is the
Land of the Free.
