Coloring Lessons

swinging my feet in a desk chair contraption 

meant for college students  

but i was only 7 and 8 and maybe 9

hearing basic sentences being repeated 

grammatical rules being taught 

you must speak English 

and the first step is here

coloring within the lines to pass time

befriending older women with my youth

an invitation to talk about their own little ones 

their reason for survival

i sat quiet while listening to words dripping in accents 

repeating themselves to be understood

they need to learn

or else the world will step on them

nods, facial expressions, and laughter 

they are all universal 

they all make us home

every saturdays meeting place 

a class full of different mouths

lessons on how to fit into their new home

a country made from difference 

but told to practice the same

practice being American  

i don’t need these lessons

i’ve been learning since birth

on how to color within the lines

how to be proud of living in a cage

with a silver spoon