“Three Words, Three Times a Day” by Charlotte Soliven
September 24, 2024
I will tell you I love you, but the words are silent
Before you can talk
I will spoon feed you porridge
Sigh as you spit it out
Still finding you cute although covered in puke
Knowing in time you will learn
How to say I love you, without saying a word
I will assume it got lost in translation
When you ask for a “Lunchable”
Preferring plastic wrapped mystery meat
To my homemade thit kho
I will curse in my native tongue
Strong enough to pierce through the language barrier
And become the few Vietnamese words you know
A slammed door could not drown my voice
I will barge in, ensuring you will hear
Then silently hand you a bowl of sliced mango
When your first lover comes over for dinner
Spouting words directly from a romcom
I will feel sick to my stomach
His “I love yous” are far too sweet for my taste
When you are heart broken
Mistaking empty words for love
Finding it hard to get out of bed
Leave the door open
Let dinner come to you
When you go to college
I’ll shout my recipes to you over the phone
My voice being lost over the blaring fire alarm
The loud chaos feels nostalgic
Cutting off the burnt pieces
Enjoying the vague taste of home
When you can cook
fluent in the silent language
And Longing to speak it
Arrive on my porch with a box of mangos
Ask me to make your favorite dish
I will pack you leftovers
When I’m gone
You will learn to love bittermelon
Sigh as your little ones refuse to eat it
You won’t speak any Vietnamese
But you will say I love you like your ancestors
When your children don’t finish their plate
You will tell them in time they will learn
That millions of “I love yous” went into that meal
I love is every sigh and deep breath that follows
I love you is a full stomach
I love you is the home your grandparents left behind
I love you is working so your children never go hungry
Remind them that even though they have never been to Vietnam
They have tasted it
Teach them to hear the gift of
Three Words. Three times a day.
This poem was written by Charlotte Soliven, a 2024-25 Youth Poetry Fellow. Performed at the Seattle Arts & Lectures Presents Series featuring Connie Chung at Town Hall Seattle on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.