Untitled - Poem by Helen Sanchez
Untitled
Poem by Helen Sanchez
I wake up in the morning and the sun brushes my face
As I welcome another day full of dreams left to chase
The further you go the prouder we’ll be
Were the words that my parents said to me
Moments that had been mentioned from the moment of my birth
Academics and success all defining my worth
From the moment I enrolled and started school
Stay strong, be brave, and don't falter was my number one rule
My parents who had nothing, left everything for me
My blood sweat and tears would one day set us free
My journey as a student started at the age of four
Kindergarten was the first battle of a long and hard war
While other kids could go outside and play
My homework was to practice the english language every day
“Como que no sabes” was the common phrase
Pushing myself till failure just to gain my parents’ praise
The years went on..the world began to unveil
The ugly truth…the opposite of a fairy tale
The gilded truth of the american dream
Hopes followed by disappointment became a common theme
We were their only hope, two sons and two daughters
As my parents spirits each day would get slaughtered
I lost my innocence at a very young age
Became an adult and from my childhood had to disengage
At the age of seventeen I finally had to leave
Go out into the world..I had a list of dreams to achieve
As I packed my bags, i noticed the weight
The weight of all my emotions leaving me in a hopeless state
Guilt ate me up and obliterated my soul
I was missing my parents, a part of my whole
Was I going too far and leaving them behind?
Or was this all part of the plan God had designed?
The tears that they have shed and the words that have been said
Are the fuel that gets me out of my bed and thrusts me into life full speed ahead
Their sacrifices are endless
So my effort must be tremendous
Turn their dreams into reality
Turn success, stability, and hope into normality
My parents left Mexico with nothing but dreams on their back
And would one day soon wrap me in the american flag
They passed their american dream down to me
Praying on a future that was not guaranteed
Now, on the eve of graduation I stand
Knowing that one day I will have a diploma and white coat in my hand
Sleepless nights and waves of tears all coming to fruition
The culmination of the longest expedition
Being a first generation student the journey seems unending
Put a smile on your face, act like you’re ok, and master the art of pretending
While your parents are locked in a golden cage
You spread your wings and take center stage
but the moments you feel like you are flying away
are indicative of good times coming your way
“the further you go, the prouder we’ll be”
those words tattooed on my heart, finally set my parents free