As an immigrant, to honor my cultural traditions
Has always been my noble intention
There are many cultural festivals I must try to celebrate
I do not want my enthusiasm to dissipate
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So I start planning the celebration in advance
Because I know I’m not going to have a chance
To think about it on the actual “holiday”
I would be busy at work through the day
So I assemble the knick-knacks the celebration demands
I select traditional outfits and make plans
To cook celebratory dishes associated
With the specific festival to be celebrated
There are events planned by my community members too
Celebrating communally instead of alone is something I can choose to do
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Since elaborate arrangements are not feasible for me time-wise
A variety of hacks or short-cuts I have devised
After all my preparation, the actual day has arrived
I go to work as usual, to complete my work early I plan to strive
But the day does not go as planned, I end up working late
When I get home, my family is not there to celebrate
It is a regular work day, work and school obligations
Have kept my spouse and child from being present for my imagined celebration
*
I have no energy left to dress up and follow
The traditions that I should, in jealousy I wallow
As pictures of my friends on social media I see
Everyone seems to be celebrating except my family..
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With a pervasive sense of guilt, I settle down at night
I console myself that even though this time I did not get it right
Next year the festival would fall on a weekend
And I shall have another opportunity to fulfill what I intend
