lä·ē·yä

About the Poem

He says my name like it’s a question
Everyone does
Do not question freedom, boy
I was the entity
Or at least I tried to be
Across the pedestals they offered in their minds, like so many stairs
I climbed
Simple minded creatures, they sing of pants on fire, cheetahs, and truths misspelled
And if not standing in mockery of my moniker
Instead they choose to disbelieve my name
I have to lie about it’s origin in order to avoid a fight
And in letting them call me a liar that becomes the only truth I know

“How do you pronounce that?” They ask.
Doesn’t matter to me 

This poem about my name has layers of meaning but required little thought. Everything is a reaction to reactions humans have had to my name. I thought it was my least interesting poem overall. ​

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“lä·ē·yä” was originally published in PCCInscape Magazine Vol 72 No. 2 Print issue.

Bio

La-iya is the root word of freedom in Tagalog, The creative writer who carries that name considers it not only a value but a life directive. She draws, writes, comforts, counsels, and wanders her way across Los Angeles. The writer of ongoing Online Work: Kaipen Nung. Find her most recent work on Instagram.