An American Korean
T a m i k o
is not my name
Tamiko is a Japanese name
I am not Japanese
although I was called, “Jap”
growing up
I’m not Japanese
I was raised white
but I’m not white
I’m Korean
but I don’t feel Korean
I feel American
I speak only English
I write only English
but I look Asian
with almond eyes
and black hair
and tan skin
I don’t quite
fit in
if I want Korean food
I go to a Korean restaurant
and order it
like I did today
if I’m curious
about the Korean culture
I look online
like I did today
I have ancestors
but know none of them
and the older I get
the harder that is
to accept
my daughter
is the only
blood relative
I will ever know
she is my heart
and my Seoul
TL
(written in 2017)