my voice

someone barged in and said,

why are you speaking this foreign language?

have you forgotten your roots?

are you learning Vietnamese? again?

you sound like a snake

that wanted to erase its old skin

the words you’re speaking

doesn’t make sense to us.

speak Vietnamese like you’re one

say “xin chao” and “xin loi”

when we’re speaking to you

stop making these poems

that no one reads.

i remembered that i had

to choose a different name

because someone couldn’t pronounce mine

thanh, say it like you just catch your breath for the first time

tammy, put your lips together

and make them bounce from each other

call me courage, and earnest, and beauty

say my name like you just have just learned to speak.

my name will stuck in your throat

like a sweet summer grape that could take your life

my name will jump from one lover’s mouth

to another, each time with more sentiments

my name will travel far and wide

it will become your national anthem.

so, if my voice isn’t your cup of tea

if my language doesn’t fall between your frequency

if my name doesn’t exist in your dictionary

if what i speak out threatens you

i will continue to sing, loud and proud

as i owe you or the world nothing.

t.l.