All posts filed under: Immigration

The Potomac is not the Mekong

Published by A Ou

The Potomac is not the Mekong. If I close my eyes, I don’t see eagles on the hunt Soaring over a river The color of muted grey clouds. I see fishermen below, Their bamboo rafts floating On a sunset’s golden reflection, The river shining and flowing Between me and Nong Khai. I smell not Wet pavement And overpriced steak But the aromatic pungent smell Of padaek glazed grilled duck Sold for 15,000 kip. If I cover my ears I don’t hear the deafening rush Of trafficked destined cars On Woodrow Wilson Bridge But the harmonic chanting Of Wat Sop’s saffron monks. I hear the sputtering motorbikes Of young lovers Riding through empty roads, Leaving echoes of laughter And clouds of dust In their wake At dusk. The Potomac is not the Mekong Just another chapter, Some river, In a once empty book. ~~ In A.Ou’s own voice:

A Foreign Voice

Published by littlelaosontheprairie

By Sengarone Peter Vetsmany Students mocked her, whispered in her face ……….me love you long time shoved coins down her shirt then laughed when she picked up the silver dots ……….off the asphalt. The high school counselors pulled me from class when she had mental breakdowns. I translated for Noy, helped her adjust ……….to a new life away from Laos She found comfort with our shared skin tone, knew I understood the struggles from Laos because my family survived it, ……….but I was not like her. I was born here. The attacks on Noy continued and began on me. Handfuls of rice were thrown at me, ……….I fought back only to get hit with a glass Coke bottle. I walked home with a swollen eye when Noy ran to me asking for protection. ……….They treated me like her. I stood there silent. Noy begged, Soy Kao, ……….Soy Kao. I gave her a blank stare that I give myself now years later, her voice haunts me in my native tongue, Help me, ……….Help me.   ~~ …