Hi-Dong Chai Poet Free verse

Being Hungry In America

(Austin, TX, 1955)

Mother writes me
From Korea
Ravaged by the war:

You are so blessed
Living in America
Land of peace
Land of plenty

I mumble:

Mother
I eat two raw eggs 
In the morning
Three pieces of Wonder bread
For supper
To save money for tuition

I’m very hungry

I’m also very lonely

I eat my eggs and bread
Sitting in front of vanity mirror
To keep company 
With a person in the mirror

But I’m determined to succeed
And make you proud

Please stay well until I return

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Anthony Bianco July 5, 2020 at 4:11 PM Hi -Hi Dong, purely expressed sentiments.. It was ramen noodles- beans and 10 lb bags of rice for me. Godbless anthony

Gershon Wolf January 2, 2020 at 8:12 PM This so resonates with me, Hi-Dong. As an ESL teacher in Chicago, I taught over 6,000 immigrants to the USA, between 1990 - May, 2019, 100's of Koreans included. I am proud of you, and know that your mother was VERY proud of you. YOU are the face of America. Thank you, Gershon.

Quoth Theraven December 26, 2019 at 10:42 AM Hi-Dong, Wishing you a happy holiday season. Looking forward to finding new horizons.., or old ones, from your poetry. Home is where memories linger, so home, it will always be. -Richard

Quoth Theraven December 7, 2019 at 12:58 AM Hi-Dong, This road you've taken is long and crooked. But it hasn't been for naught. Bless the man, and message. -Richard

Jenish Somadas December 3, 2019 at 3:43 AM Reality is far from imagination.. Beautifully expressed..