Mothers
In this poem, the speaker writes about his mother, emphasizing how much he admires and respects her. His mother has sacrificed a lot for him, including her dreams of becoming a teacher, which represents the sacrifices many mothers make for their children. Specifically, this poem acknowledges the sacrifices that immigrant parents make for their children, who often sacrifice their own dreams to give their children better opportunities.
Immigrant parents
In this poem, Pham writes about the sacrifices that immigrant parents make for their children. The speaker acknowledges that if it weren't for the sacrifices his mother made, he would not have been able to become a teacher himself. His mother sacrificed her own dreams and ambitions in order to provide for her son, which is something many immigrant parents do. This is celebrated by Pham as being an extraordinary act of self-sacrifice and love.
Responsibility
In this poem, the speaker acknowledges the sacrifices his mother has made, in order to provide him with opportunities. As he has grown older, the speaker realizes what his mother has sacrificed, and believes that he has a responsibility to honor his mother's sacrifice. For example, the speaker acknowledges his mother's role in his own achievements and his career and sees his career as a teacher as an honoring of his mother's dream.
