first gen by Sonia Kurup
first gen
your name
the first thing you will lose
their tongues are not made to roll the r
your pride is second
shrinking
to fit into the one bedroom american dream
you and your 4 siblings share.
your job is to fight
no one can do it for you
your blood, your skin
is destined for conflict
there is no safety parachute
no emergency exits.
but
you will always have your lineage
the gentle hand of ancestry
the strongest voices
the tenderness of the home they create
leading you to go on.
this battle is good for you
because every time
you’ve no choice but to remind yourself of
who you are