inheritance given
a life not earned
immigrant. adopted.
lost. foreign.
i have no lineage
took no pilgrimage
a zero-generation
anglo-american.

unfamiliar soil (mother)
mysterious seed (father)
thieved land (freedom?)
it’s where i sleep.

it’s also
where i see.
so i’ll take the heat
of all this
racial hostility
and seek what
i believe to be
peace, taking heed
in this adopted body.

to be present
all future
all forward
no history.