American
What is it
that makes us put labels on ourselves?
Many of my friends are Hispanic or Latino Americans
each might say they are the diverse cultured Americans,
still holding on and speaking their native language.
A few of my friends are Black or Afro-Americans,
few claim they are African Americans since they were born here,
my best friend Tammy just says she's a proud black woman and she is.
Three or four Muslim, Islamic and Pakistanis, India Americans
live across the street and are good neighbors
but speak English American in my presence.
One or two are Native Americans, and native Hawaiians are relatives
acquaintances proud and openly revealed
while still embracing their history.
A neighbor is Chinese American, another Korean, Asian Americans
who practice the customs of their land of origin
with ceremonies and foods reminding them of home.
Some family members are from England, Brits,
a few cousins are Danes, some from Norway and Sweden,
they simply say, they are now Americans.
I am second generation Irish, Polish, Russian and a spritz Italian American,
some might say a conglomerate,
well blended, a European, White American.
I don't see it that way, discarding the prefixes, whatever they be -
I am humble and proud to be me, myself
an American
and that is enough to be proud of.
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