Guest

aiya

when I’m in my country I am home because life, culture, history is an open, ongoing book unfinished, generationally

I am no expert what makes you one? because you’ve been to my motherland?

I may never go but that doesn’t make my thoughts feelings culture history Less

they’re all a part of me I am a student as my grandfather taught me to be

and somehow this has translated to incompetent and incomplete

perhaps you’re forgetting something

if we both went to China spoke Cantonese we would be equals guests

but here in my country I cater to privilege and white walls white-ness

and honor what my ancestors said to forever keep growing shoots and stalks not bamboo leaves

this is our country and my respect is not permission for you a neighbor to smile, lord and bow as if I understand nothing

when your privilege speaks it’s condescending

do you realize what you’re saying?

the toe you dipped into my people’s history isn’t equivalent to my century

before you appropriate and lord your humility it may be good to consider that a crucial part of your perspective is missing

here in my country in my home neighbor I am not a guest I refuse to be