Good Enough

When I was
a child, I was never
good enough

For my family, too
dark, too brown
too clumsy, too loud

Always putting my
foot in my mouth
and breaking things

The fortune-teller
my mother took me
to see, as a child

Took one look at my
unruly hair, bad teeth
and messy clothes

He must have known
told me, that I would be
bad with money too

And so, I spent
my entire life believing
him, growing up

Afraid, in every way
of myself, and my
own bad decisions

It was my fault, you see
when you are a child
and no one tells you

That you are, just a child
and the adults are too
busy, yelling and crying

I cried too, and felt
so sad inside, I was
a broken baby bird

But I never let them
hear me, not once
I was so, so strong

So quiet, this time
not making trouble
or asking for more

And finally, then
I was good enough
to never be seen

And there was a peace
I knew, from me
being me, unseen

And it was not
good, and it was not
bad, but it was

Good enough.

© 2025 Chenda Duong

Note: This is a picture of me at my 5th grade graduation at Lockwood Elementary School. I am holding my baby sister, Dana.