A belligerent,

Battling both of her worlds to fit in.

I got tired of the earthy parboiled rice

Steaming in the rice cooker.

I got tired of speaking my native language,

Because while my peers started their assignments,

I sat in my desk clueless,

waiting for my ELL teacher.

I got tired of being Hmong.

So I pierced knives into my parents’ hearts

As I rebelled to fit in with this American world they didn’t understand.

Disappointed, frustrated, and defeated

My parents let me be.

I walked down the halls betraying my own culture,

As mumbles of hurtful words

Ushered me to Calculus.

That sharp knife of rebellion stabbed me,

I will never fit in.