Poem - "Navigating Space"

I made this poem “Moulded by Diversity” as a response to the spoken word performance of Grace Taylor “Navigating Space”. 

Moulded by Diversity

When I was young,

They thought I was Chinese,

As I grew older,

They thought I was Cambodian,

I doubted myself, my origin.

In my search,

I fall deeper and deeper,

It was so calm and quiet,

I realised and understood,

I, myself consist of others.

A range of cultures,

Cultures, adapted from others.

I, myself must

understand the past, the beginning

because that past is my present.

I know, who I am,

I know, where I am from

I am a Filipino

I am a mixture

Not unique, moulded by diversity

once, I was certain then uncertain

now, I know, I am a mixture

This is where I’ll start,

This is where I belong,

This is who I am.

I am moulded by diversity

delighted and contented

Standing firm speaking aloud

For everyone to hear

“I am a Filipino, I am mixed”