द्राविडः/Drāviḍa, தமிழ்/Tamizh, america/American

I am Dravidian, Tamil, American
Born between two lands
And of many minds
Claimed my lineage always
Roots brandished with pride
Vedas in my veins
Manjal to make me fair (& lovely)
Carnatic melody reigns
Since birth, coconut oil in my hair
‘What’s that you’re eating?’ They’d sneer
Oh, that’s just rice and kootu.
Childhood spent seeking acceptance
Still proudly wore the pottu
They said be Bollywood or be gone
I said no thank you
I’d rather go at it alone
It took years,
But my people came around
Sifting through crocodile tears
There is kinship to be found
I learned:
Dark is beauty
Tamizh is grace
My ancestral wisdom
Forever etched in my face
We’re all home now
Let’s do more than bask
Don’t tell me how--
I’d rather you ask.

Original poem by Divya Balakrishnan
All rights reserved.