i hear the sound of my relatives speaking
in the loud, expressive way that i am now used to hearing
i understand every word they say
but they cannot understand the language that i speak

they love me through
envelopes full of money-angpao as they say
and tables full of food
mom says that they are family
so that automatically means
that i should love them
do i?
i’m in the process of finding out

while distance might be one thing that separates me and my family
the barrier that i can’t break
no matter how strong i punch and kick
is language

no amount of “things” they give me
or hugs i give them
will be able to solve
the difference that is our words