I know now, as I did in my childhood wonder
that the teaching legacy passed down to me—
The speaker discovers that his mother had aspirations to be a teacher in her youth, the same vocation he pursued. Though they share a similar passion, it was not by accident that he followed the teaching path. The legacy of teaching persists with him because the mother relinquished her chance in order to take care of him. The speaker has a new outlook on his life as he is more grateful for her sacrifices.
and help pay for my tuition
so I could learn to spell ‘persistent’ correctly—
The poem highlights the sacrifices made by immigrant parents in securing a better future for their children. They hope to grant them the opportunities they lacked due to unavoidable circumstances. Rather than chase their own dreams they dedicate themselves to guarantee the children achieve their dreams. Thus, the speaker expresses the huge sacrifices made by the parent for his education.
what it must’ve been to mother, there
among the refugee boat’s thrum, the faces
of Saigon watching—eyeballs ribboned with flames
The speaker highlights the Fall of Saigon which prompted their family to flee to a foreign country for safety. He paints a vivid image of the refugees watching their homes disintegrate without any possibility of reclaiming their old life. Consequently, the text demonstrates the grit and resilience exhibited by immigrant parents in starting a new life elsewhere.
