There is a new group of people in the world
Who are born in one country and grow up in another
And perhaps move from that country too
To study or work somewhere else
What should they call themselves?
How should they define themselves?

I know a gentleman from Lebanese roots
Who group up in Nicaragua
He came to Montreal to study and stayed
Now, he speaks English with a Spanish accent
His wife is French Canadian
So the mix of cultures and languages goes on

We were at a dinner with two other couples
For none of whom English was the mother tongue
But that’s how we communicated all night
What we have in common, living in Montreal

My children have Dutch and Persian heritage
But have grown up in Canada
They are not identifiable as Persian or Dutch
But appreciate where their parents come from

I asked a Japanese man who lives in the United States
When he moved there
He said he’s third generation Japanese American
Ooops! What a mistake

Cases like this will only increase
As we continue to live our lives
Already, where are you from
Is not an easy answer for some

How wonderful that we’ll have to get to know people
By focusing on their qualities not their birth place
The gentleman with an Arabic name and a Spanish accent
Was the inspiration for this poem

May 8th, 2016