All or nothing
“You are lucky”
they self-assuredly assert
“You have double of everything”
they proclaim so sure of themselves
Two heritages
Two mother tongues
Two families
Two homes
Two places to belong
It’s the lie
in any one of them
that shatters the shelter
of all the other lies
meant to comfort
Time and time again
they show you
in words and in actions
that you are never
to belong to either
You vividly recall
when you understood
that it is always
all or nothing
and never both
at the same time
Full of doubt
and uncertainty
you trade to get
temporary
freedom and peace
as you choose
a stance
a loyalty
a default
And with the
pledge of allegiance
worn as a faux mask
you feel as if
you’ve sold your soul
for something
that was just meant
to hide the
rage and agony