Liting Chen / ​The Phone

The phone is ringing again,

My mother wants to know

how I’m adapting in America.

However, I cannot

tell her that the linguistic battles I cannot overcome.

And I cannot

let her worry about my unknown future as I could.

The phone is ringing again,

My mother wants to know

what I’m learning in America.

However, I cannot

tell her that cultural conflictions I run into.

And I cannot

let her sense the color discrimination as I do.

The phone is ringing again,

My mother wants to know if I’m safe in America.

However, I cannot

tell her that the mass shooting I am surrounded.

And I cannot

let her fear of the violent threats as I would.

The phone is ringing again,

I cannot

let my mother go through the brutal reality as I do.

But no matter how much I have been through,

I will tell her
​
the American dream I still believe.