World One

homeland, old country, country of origin

the place where mother’s mother lives

the place where things make more sense

the “where you came from” when they say

“go back to where you came from.”

World Two

the adopted homeland, the country of presents and futures

the place where mother’s body lives

the place where things are what they are

where i grew up: Wilmington, Delaware

a place to be somebody

World Three

immigrant’s house, the space in between, home

where mother speaks Tamil and I answer in English

the place where we can rest

from the push and pull

of all the worlds, and all the selves, and all the homes.