Shirley Geok-lin Lim

[birdcages.livejournal.com]

Learning to love America

because it has no pure products

because the Pacific Ocean sweeps along the coastline
because the water of the ocean is cold
and because land is better than ocean

because I say we rather than they

because I live in California
I have eaten fresh artichokes
and jacarandas bloom in April and May

because my senses have caught up with my body
my breath with the air it swallows
my hunger with my mouth

because I walk barefoot in my house

because I have nursed my son at my breast
because he is a strong American boy
because I have seen his eyes redden when he is asked who he is
because he answers I don't know

because to have a son is to have a country
because my son will bury me here
because countries are in our blood and we bleed them

because it is late and too late to change my mind
because it is time.

Comments

Much Appreciated Posting.

[sinisterwilliam.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of the sort of questions I was asking myself this morning- before making a long and somewhat questionable post about my own patriotism.

In a way I see this is a good feminine counterpoint to my view point, though certainly more poetic than I've embraced it, yet anyway.

Re: Much Appreciated Posting.

[kathyunguyen.livejournal.com]

We sometimes take America for granted.

It's like a love-hate relationship thing. If anything, I'd rather live here than in war-torn, third world, communist, or dictatorship countries...

And yes, I too appreciate this poem. Thank you for posting.

[kathyunguyen.livejournal.com]

A poem much appreciated. <3

[gaski.livejournal.com]

I feel like when/if I move to the US, this might as well be my personal anthem or something.

[vanlowe.livejournal.com]

This is terrific. Thank you for sharing.