FINDING MY VOICE

Learning English wasn’t just words,
It was finding a way to be heard.
I was born in Lima, came here at four, 

Doing all the stuff on my own
back in fourteen, life got hard once more.

Always on the move, culture to culture but 

Never enough, always a stranger, and the journey was tough.
Then came back to New York, twenty twenty one,
A full city of lights, where everything ran and moved so fast. 

In school I used to smile but never felt complied
Used to laugh at jokes but always got them wrong.
Finally came the day where I spoke,
My hands were wet, my knees were weak.

The words were blurry but my heart so loud,
I tried to speak anyway and faced the crowd,
The words finally came out, my voice grew strong,
For the very first time.

Now I talk, through each recall,

I know my voice and I rise through it all.
Now I’m not a stranger who drifts away,
I found my home and I’m here to stay.