Empathy from Binhi by Huemongrel

There is no rest for the caregivers
because there is no end to empathy

My mother's mother
had her daughter
at the age, too young,
twelve or thirteen
She'd go around town
stealing wallets
to send her babies overseas

My mother's mother
wakes up not knowing
where she is
who's house she sleeps
at night you can hear her calling
Daddy odai take care of me
mahal kita
where are you

My father's father
was a preacher
who'd come home at night
and beat his kids

All my life I sought approval from him
and when he died
he said I was nice and good
but not as nice and good
as his favorite son

because I'm a
hue mongrel
hue mongrel
of a girl
Huemongrel
human girl

• Alternative
• vocal
• Tempe