I went
Without knowing the final destination
I obeyed
Without question the wisdom
I followed
The footsteps of the boat people
In confusion
And chaos
I began my adulthood
I was thrust into a new place
Where I was welcome
Yet a stranger
I felt lost
Amid the smiles
I clung to
A few familiar faces
The unearned guilt I carried
Brought me physical anguish
I didn’t know how better
To find peace within
I plowed on
The best way I could
Time healed
The scars of fleeing
I calmed down
Embracing my blessings
I carried on
Living through the ages
Like many around me
Some memories have faded
To preserve the soul
We count on written diaries
To know the history
I am thankful
Yet I know the pain remains
Somewhere deep inside
Each of the boat people
Though I appreciate the gains
I mourn the losses
On the anniversary
Of the day I left
