Lost in Exile T.D

LOST IN EXILE

T.D.

Mom, Iam intrigued by how much different Vietnamese is from English. Like, the way we say thiêu thân, or, self-incinerate but they say mayfly Mom, little do I know if it was the fly of May or might it fly away? Escape - as they do Suicidal - as we are ever since the wars.

And Mom, Iwonder why Americans can’t smoke ‘til they’re 21. In Việt Nam, I did smoke when I was 18 maybe my father started when he was barely 18. But Mom, don’t pity themfor four years of nicotine shortage because they could drive away escape even just for an hour, when they’re 16 while we stay intoxicated, with nicotine. Mom, I’m lost in exile tha hương I am forgetting my mother tongue and my skin is turning white. Mom, I’m scaredA Việt senior I know has her hair turned blonde. She speaks English like a native speaker yet she babbles Việt like a child.

Listen, MomI don’t want to be like her having a white name civilized but I am becoming her, Mom letting them call me whatever they want capitalized I’m losing my melatonin I’m losing my tongue . . . MomShould I dampen my tongue with nicotine? To speak Việt again? MomShould I incinerate my skin grill it, paint it? To be Việt again?

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