Cathy Thi Tai Nguyen

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

A native of Saigon, VIETNAM, Cathy was touched by destructions in her homeland. She hopes PEACE and PROSPERITY for all. An avid gardener, Cathy tends an assortment of medicinal and culinary herbs in her garden. A homemaker with traditional taste, Cathy reaches out, helping others whenever she can. Her English poems have been published by World of Poetry (California) and by The National Library of Poetry (Maryland). Cathy is currently working on compiling her almost one hundred Vietnamese poems into a collection dedicated to her family and friends. Writing poetry and reading are her past times. Cathy is active and has been cheerful all her life.

To Be Happy

My root is tropical
My race is oriental
My skin is brown
My spirit is free as a gentle breeze
I was born just to be me
It's the different in color one may see
In our heart one feeling only
Making everyone at ease
Why fighting instead of loving
This World is strange enough
At this century
It is time to reconcile
With every nation
In any aspect
Serving God and your family
with the best of your ability
And say to yourself
"LUCKY ME"
Because the principal of life
Is to be happy.

Feeling

We were called the boat people
Some think we are the trouble
Simply because we need to resettle
After so many lost in battles.

We see reason for all rejects
Cause of the inflation affects
Prepare ourselves for goodness sake
Communist influences are right next.

We ask you please to be at ease
Watching us grow in the community
One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole tree
Exchange our LOVE for remedy.

We did go through so many shocks
Lost almost our entire stocks
Only COURAGE and PRIDE were left
Work our way up as new folks.

Adjusting old and new cultures
Just for a better future
We need to learn from each other
Sing a happy song TOGETHER.

We are children of God as you all
Only different in color people call
We try to cope for we do hope
INDEPENDENCE, LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all.