“It’s in my blood.”
Funny, that phrase: first of all,
If I may correct, there is no such thing.
But, then again, we will believe any calling,
Supposedly summoned by our hearts.
I come from a family of three cultures:
One Dutch, one Chinese, one Jewish; a sculpture
Made of many metals, uniquely modern
Art that people refuse to understand.
Now I sit, torn, between all three
Countries that I “belong” to;
Is there such thing? Come to think
Nations are merely chunks of land
Separated from other chunks of land
By imaginary lines.
We’ve declared ourselves to these chunks of land
The Netherlands, China, Israel
In a quest to find an answer that will never appear,
An answer to the question, “Who are we”:
We are humans, we are creatures, objects of the planet Earth
We hold status, subjects to conquered land
Yet that isn’t enough to satisfy our desire
Of knowing, truly, what we are.
I am Dutch, Chinese, Jewish, Human
These things do not tear me apart
Or stuff me in boxes that don’t belong
These things are each a chunk of me
A puzzle piece
There meant to be
Now growing, showing, out of me.
After all, it’s in my blood.
Written by plumtree
Topics: 2021-22 School Year, Complete Archive (2012-2020)