chaotic canvas

eyes

open your eyes

what do you see?

the black and white of the world

i see what is before me

i see what i am told to be

i see what i am told is me

but nothing else.

eyes

open your eyes

yellow is what i see

they say that is the color of my skin

they say i am to blame

that i am docile

that i am silent

the model minority

a walking fetish that you just wanna-

eyes

open YOUR eyes

what do you see?

shades of blue, green, pink and purple

a tropical sunrise and a glistening rainbow from the sweating snow

i see my passion in culture

love and pain for my family

my strength in compassion

enthusiasm for cuisine

my pride as a first-generation Vietnamese American, and yes, I am proud.

i see my undecided future -- the many question marks ahead

i see corruption in the world

a messy march towards equality

my faith blinded by ignorance

the Vietnam War rooted in my parents' past

i see my battles of addiction

of breaking the "trophy child" mold

of seeing beyond my church's views, beyond my parents' views, beyond my family's and friends' views, beyond my own views

i see my fear of disappointment and my outpouring ambition

i see the chaotic canvas of scattered warm and cool tones

splotches of grey

patches of blank canvas still waiting to be touched

eyes

open your eyes

i see me.