I was born with two strikes against me Asian and…my mother didn’t like me I wanted to be golden wear a curly blonde crown of Shirley Temple locks Into my teens I streamed, oye orale pues orale pues I poemed my story right on write on Blackness became my call I danced the moves wore…
Written by
I was born
with two strikes
against me
Asian and…
my mother didn’t like me
I wanted to be golden wear a curly blonde crown of Shirley Temple locks Into my teens I streamed, oye orale pues orale pues I poemed my story right on write on Blackness became my call I danced the moves wore the hats and sang off key Now at 73 a hybrid a tribrid a unitard something in between a floating world I was, will be, I am genie Nakano, 10.15.21
It took me a loooong time. I don’t think an Asian sorority would have helped me. So glad you discovered yourself in college. Actually sometimes I ‘m still trying to figure it all out. Probably why I write so much.
Hi Genie;
Because I also grew up in a non-Asian neigborhood, I too, found myself wanting to be “golden”. It was only when I attended college and joined an all Asian sorority did I shed my ideals of “becoming white”; Life became less conflicted…
Christine Chuman ________________________________
Thank you Cheryl. Funny thing I was afraid Asian ‘s would be offended. ya gotta tell your secrets.
Stunning poem, Genie! <3 Lovely and wise! <3
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