Mother is a poem written by Vietnamese-Australian poet, Vuong Pham, and was first published in his anthology collection, Refugee Prayer (2013).
The poem explores the relationship between Pham and his mother, both of whom were forced to emigrate to Australia after the Fall of Saigon (1975). Pham juxtaposes his own upbringing to that of his mother. Unlike the “violence” and “destruction” that she endured, he was blessed with a carefree and joyous life. He experiences sadness on her behalf, at the fact that she never had the chance to experience having her own career. Though the mother may be happy for her son’s accomplishments, it is bittersweet as she never had the chance to fulfill her own dreams.
Moreover, the poem transitions from Pham as a child to an adult. Initially he is naïve about his mother’s pasts and does not realize the context behind her situation. However, as he grows older, he becomes more in “awe” of her strength and resilience in raising him, as a single parent in a foreign country.
