My English is Fine. | Teen Ink

My English is Fine.

April 10, 2018
By kindspirit02 SILVER, Escondido, California
kindspirit02 SILVER, Escondido, California
5 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you" - Maya Angelou


I know what I said and I mean what I say,
There is no need to clarify.
I understand the words that come out of my mouth.

I speak the language that I know, even if only I know.


There is no need to explain my feelings.
Only i can do that.
And even i cannot do that.
Therefore, neither can you.

And I do not need a translator.
My english is fine, thank you for asking.
I do not need you to rationalize my thoughts.
I think for myself just as you do on your own.

I speak what I know and I know what I speak.
Do not explain for me, I will explain for myself.
My english if fine, you do not need to translate.
For I will translate for myself, from what I know and what I mean.


The author's comments:

As a Latina, I am often discriminated against for my ethnicity and my gender. This piece is a reminder to others that I can speak for myself. I am not "dumb" or "ignorant" because of who I am.


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This article has 3 comments.


on Apr. 24 2018 at 11:23 am
TobiasEliot DIAMOND, San Diego, California
53 articles 0 photos 56 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul." -Pablo Neruda

This is good, I can't relate personally, but your words are very powerful.

karisuna GOLD said...
on Apr. 23 2018 at 2:39 pm
karisuna GOLD, Pinellas Park, Florida
19 articles 0 photos 36 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all." -The Emperor, Mulan

"Let go of anger, let go of pride, when you are bound by nothing, you go beyond sorrow." -Buddha

I can relate to your struggles myself, as an Asian-American girl. This poem is very powerful.

on Apr. 23 2018 at 9:16 am
Chloe_Rose BRONZE, Leavittsburg, Ohio
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
My intuition is my super-power.

I am latina as well, yet my friends love it when I rant to them in Spanish. In some ways I understand, for people send weirded-out looks to my family and I when we start a conversation in the store in all Spanish.