Ask Me Who I Am

Dear world, He says - we speak English in America She says - don't speak in your language Ask me who I am Ask me how I've built Upon my American dream Ask me how I feel After been told to go back to my country Ask me who I am Ask me how I cry So my sister does not have to Ask me how I work So in the future my parents won't have to Ask me who I am Ask me how I'm pressured To chase money over dreams Ask me why everyone is friend before foe Ask me who I am Ask me why my family ran from war How their village was blasted away How they ran from the rice fields and saw them in flames They ask - where are you really from? It is not where I'm from But where I am going Taking the road less traveled Paving the way for those behind me Struggling to succeed I speak the words of determination Ask not where I'm from but why We aren't yet united as one - human K.L.