tanka collection
based on the theme of unspoken thoughts
I.
i swallow my words
bury them into my core
shovel dirt upon
the casket, burial for
secrets i never tell you.
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II.
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i’m america[n]
asia[n], with korean roots
america sees ----------------- asian girl, korea sees ------------ white girl held in the middle
a m m i n o r i t y
b e a u t i f u l b u t a m i m e
a m b e c a u s e i b u t m e a m
b e a u t i f u l m i n o r i t y
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III.
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[burdens]: sacks of rice
s p l a y e d across my shoulders -hunched
w i d e like an eagle’s
wings, but are not meant to fly.
heavy wings meant to smother
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IV.
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don’t come, grandma says,
a waste of time to visit
but i don’t want to
regret the fixed time i have
with you don’t know when you’ll leave-
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V.
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parts of you remain
invisible to the eye
a small part of you
remains despite the carnage
of your soul- ripped out of you
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VI.
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my mind is s c a t t e r e d
unable to comprehend
the feel of the room
do i appear rude to you?
savage american child?
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VII.
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quiet, reserved in
loud, unbearable moments
quiet on the bus --
how do you stand injustice,
letting yourself be beat up?
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VIII.
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i never listened
was always two worlds away
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always by yourself
comforted by your worlds
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like i am with mine- worlds/words
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i am comforted
by the worlds i imagine
figments of my soul
flowing from ink into words
[a defense mechanism]
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IX.
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how do you live life
how do you live without breath
without a gas mask
in a world of toxic air
would you take the chance to live?
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X.
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Tongue, disremember
the sweet lyrical sounds of
hangul and replace
with s t i f f [words]: hello, goodbye
and lies: nice to meet you too
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