Mongolmom: The Space Between

Mongolmom: The Space Between:   The Space Between I grew up in a house filled with echoes. Echoes of a language I once knew but lost. Not because I wanted to— but because...

The Space Between

 

The Space Between

I grew up in a house filled with echoes.

Echoes of a language I once knew but lost.

Not because I wanted to—

but because a teacher told my parents,

“Speak to her only in English. It will be easier for her.”

So they did.

And just like that, my mother tongue faded,

locked away in a place I could no longer reach.

At school, I learned quickly—

not just math and history,

but how to exist without making waves.

How to smile when they mimicked my lunch,

how to laugh when they asked,

“But where are you really from?”

I looked around and saw no one like me.

And when I did,

they measured me first—

“What kind of Asian are you?”

As if my worth could be defined by a country,

as if failing their silent test

meant I wasn’t enough.

At home, my parents carried ghosts I couldn’t name.

They filled the silence with indulgence,

with distractions,

with wounds passed down but never healed.

Love came in fragments—

unspoken lessons, quiet expectations,

the unspoken rule: assimilate.

And yet, my home was also filled with worlds.

My parents, seekers of stories,

brought pieces of other cultures into our lives.

We ate foods from places we had never been,

celebrated traditions that weren’t ours

but felt like they could be.

I learned there was no one right way to live,

that the world was vast, intricate, fascinating.

That belonging didn’t have to mean just one thing.

But outside, the world demanded boxes.

They wanted me to be one or the other,

to fit neatly into a label,

to pick a side and stay inside it.

And when I couldn’t, they called me lost.

Maybe that’s why my mind has always searched,

jumping from thought to thought,

grasping at patterns, connections, meanings.

They called it scattered.

They called it unfocused.

But I call it expansive.

Because I am not just one thing.

I am the words I lost and the ones I’ve claimed.

I am the cultures I’ve embraced,

the flavors, the languages, the traditions I’ve learned.

I am the bridge between histories,

the space between expectations.

I am not lost.

I do not need to be just one thing.

I exist in the space between.

And that space is mine.

By; Tergel U. Pigg 02. 18. 2025

The New Year

 

The New Year

A New Year becoming

New day, new ways

Letting go of the past

And looking forward

No longer feeling the pain of past

No matter how long it had lasted

We will move past it

When the bad memories come forth

Light and burn it with a torch

Leave the ashes all behind

Put on a good face and be kind

Because the New Year is here

So let's go about and spread some cheer

And hope

Not only, for a better tomorrow

But, a better today

And for better ways

Welcome the New Year with love in our hearts

Let's believe in fresh starts

Let go of the pain of the past

Let it no longer last

But let the New Year come

Let us not be glum

But glad

For better love,

Better hugs

Better days

Better ways

And even better says

Let us hope for a better year

So let us spread some cheer

So wipe your tears

Happy New Year!

By, Catherine T.Pigg 12.31.2011

Two little hearts

Two little hearts

Two little sparkling eyes

Looking face to face

Holding candle lights

Promising each together

Wishes for the future

Honest little hearts

Beating big hearts

Intertwined in their sisterhood

Coming up together in life

Reaching out to each other

Best friends for life

Better in the world together

Blowing candles and giving hugs

Gazed upon by their grandma

Whose heart is deeply touched

Praying for their future life

For each and love them

 

S. Uzmee 09.19.2024

Mongolmom: Our Mother, Earth

Mongolmom: Our Mother, Earth:  Our Mother, Earth Blue view from the universe Beautiful earth of mine Giving you colors of nature Blessing you with light   Lov...

Our Mother, Earth

 Our Mother, Earth

Blue view from the universe

Beautiful Earth of mine

Giving you the colors of nature

Blessing you with light

 

Loving and taking care of the earth

Rains come down like happy soft tears falling

Greed is ripping up the planet for oil and profit

Storms hurl downpours and twisting winds

 

Taking care of the oceans and rivers to keep them clear

The Earth will continue to make you happy and joyful

If you’re polluting and damaging nature

Sadness and anger through severe hurricanes and storms will follow

 

If you love nature and live with it

Flowers blooming colorfully with clear blue skies

Wars and the destruction of nature

Opening chasms and fissures upon the earth

 

Oh, let us find peace on earth

Oh, no more strife

Oh, no more greed

Oh, no more fear

 

By, S. Uzmee 8.25.2024

Good Luck

 

Good luck

                (Dennis & Sarangerel)

 

Over ten years

Living in North Carolina

Meeting and building friendships

Like sisters and brothers

Together with the good and bad

Like one extended family

A basket full of memories

 

Oh, yes..  Hope the new place welcomes you

                Peaceful and warm

                Another step to your new life

               Wishing you good luck

     With a bright blue sky above

               Happy and enjoyful

     Full  life ahead

 

Your Charlotte friends will be thinking about you

As you will think of your Charlotte friends

 

Long distance made close in a modern world

Just like beside us

Connect to dear friends

Come to visit sometimes

Enjoy with us

 By. S. Uzmee

Mongolmom: Mongol Queen

Mongolmom: Mongol Queen:       Mongol Queen   Dressed head to toe in fine dresses and jewels   Grand queen of majestic royalty Loose hairs from her braids blowin...

Mongol Queen

  

 

Mongol Queen
 
Dressed head to toe in fine dresses and jewels 
Grand queen of majestic royalty

Loose hairs from her braids were blowing against her cheek
Elegant style of Mongol women

 
Beautiful face and body
Gorgeous princess’s figure
 
Strong athletic body
Silent women’s strength
  
Soft-loving morals
The caring heart of a Mongol lady

Joyful happy life
Proud satisfied wife
 
Discerning of goods and livestock
Brilliant Mongol woman’s gaze  
 
Strong observant eye
Accomplished Mongol Mother’s mind

Warrior intellect
Power of the heroic Mongol Queen
 
Blessed with caring and kindness  
Angel of Heaven
 
Holding secrets of life within her mind
Chief treasure of the Mongol Mother Queen’
 
S. Uzmee 5.15.2024

Happy Holiday!

Happy Holiday!

Celebrating this moment

The happiness of the holiday

Loving of lives

Sharing of feelings

Enjoying giving

Gratitude for our loved ones

Admiration amongst companions

Inspiring humanitarian efforts

Wishing the world to be at peace

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

By. S. Uzmee 12.19.2023 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for Mother Earth giving us an amazing world

Thankful for my parents’ encouragement

Thankful for my sympathetic husband

Thankful to my daughters for giving me a wonderful motherhood

Thankful for my doting, adorable granddaughter

With whom I have been introduced to a grandparent's world

Thankful for my sisters and brothers

Thankful for caring friends

Have a loving Thanksgiving!

By. S. Uzmee 11.22.2023

Give Peace to Mother Earth

 

 Give Peace to Mother Earth

 

Successfully creating smart technology

Business blooming like weeds

Natural life shrinking

Earth is being wounded everywhere

Politicians playing and gambling

Selfish leaders want power

Everywhere putting bones

People are firing up mentally

What’s happening to the world?

Why has it all gone so wrong?

It is the twenty-first century

We’re dreaming about our future

Peace, calm, friendly, wonderful life

That’s the way it was planned

Greed is hurting Mother Earth

Sorrowing people, shattering families, and friends  

Losing trust and heart

Children are still hungry, crying, and dying

Bullets flying everywhere, exploding   

The dangerous world we are living in now

Humans need to see the truth again

Give love to yourself and others                  

You choose the food you eat

In the same way, choose trust and love of others

Give Earth peace

Take care of everything and everyone.

 

S. Uzmee 4.25.2023

 

Grandchildren

 

Grandchildren

You never think about your child growing up so fast

Time flies by fast, your busy rollercoaster life taking your attention

One day surprise you saying 

I am pregnant

You hear the words

Your mind is scrambled and worried

Then you realize your baby is now an adult

You see your daughter giving birth to your grandchild

Oh, my gosh…

Then you hold your grandchild

Face glowing like sunshine

You spend as much time as you can with your grandchild

No matter how much you are tired you just smile and are cheerful

The best part does not have to be being a parent to your grandchild

Just enjoy and spoil them

They are so lovely and cute

 

S.Uzmee 08.16.2022

 

Humanity’s Future

  

Humanity’s Future

Trees are growing; a beautiful forest is there

Herbs, wild fruits, and nuts

The animal’s home is the forest

Breathing in this world, just like us

Beautiful colorful land

Breathing, blue sky, and warm sunshine

Wildflowers and grasses

Dancing wind and planted seeds

 

Rivers and creeks, quenching thirst

You and I are animals, too

Enjoy our blessings and be grateful

Feeding from the earth

 

Shimmering desert mystery

Dry sea wind twisting

Exposing sea salt under the sand

The animals moving 

 

The technological world we live in

Smart TV's and phones

Airplanes and appliances

Toys to cars

 

The modern world we live in

Shiny colorful materials

Homes and buildings

Streets and cities

Babies playing with smart toys

People ordering food, a click away

Shopping from screens

Eating in silence 

Political gambles

Business is pushing the world

Ordinary people live a normal life

Saving Earth from the natural state

Where is kindness and heart?

Earth gives us a beautiful life

Will we embrace our beautiful world?

Or continue leading to a dead, cold planet that was Earth.

By: S.Uzmee 03.27.2022 

 

Greetings for Mongolian New Years Eve

 

Greetings for Mongolian New Years Eve

 

The famous Eiffel tower

On the banks of the Seine river

Beautiful centuries of architecture 

But not quite like Saint Petersburg

 

Amazing art and culture

World of fancy fashions

Delicious pastries and cafés                                                 

Celebration of tasty champagne

 

Called city of love

Especially, Paris at night

None more fashionable, than the Parisians

Blessings of love, together let’-+s celebrate

 

Beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen

Cute lovely little boy and girls

Happy New Year

Best wishes for good health                                                      

Bonne annee et bonne santé

 

 

 By Uzmee Pigg 12.30.2021

 

 

 

 

To: Weldon Graham

 

To:  Weldon Graham

 

Once upon a time

You met my husband to be

Working with him together

And coming to Mongolia

 

I met you for the first time

Better than the others

Smiling civilized, a gentleman

In Mongolia you are so famous

 

People stopping you

And taking photo’s with you

And you rode Mongolian horse

And a Bactrian camel

 

You built an amazing life and family

Appreciate having you and your family’s friendship

Enjoy your retirement

Our best friend

 

By:  James &  Uzmee     11.13.2021

A Magic Tree

 

A Magical Tree

Year’s last months

In every family home

Nearly every place known

Streets and parks

Enjoying and decorating

One of these mystical trees

Colors of toys and lights

Magic coming that night 

and morning after

From far away 

Frosty’s secret palace

Only one time round, traveling the world

Riding, jingling of the sled 

Reindeer hooves, pushing away

With beautiful snow angels on the Earth below

Full of surprise gifts and goodies 

Man of many names

Grandfather Frost 

Or Santa or even Saint Nick

Coming to town 

Looking for the magic tree

Sparkling little eyes waiting

Wishing, anxiously wringing hands

Counting days and times

Oh, magic tree

Blessing every family

One magic moment

Beautifully decorated tree of the night

Magically shining 

Full of inviting surprise gifts

Early waking

child’s screaming, exuberating voice

Quickly opening beloved gifts

That moment of wonderful cuteness

Loving parent’s hard work paid off

Best happiness in the world

Once a year to share this moment

With this magic tree

Making the whole world happy and warm

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

S.Uzmee 12.15.2020

 

Birthdays

 

Birthdays

You are born to the light of the world

Time and date marked on the calendar

Celebrating once a year

With those you love

Childhood time, filled with excitement, savoring fun moments

Proud teenage years looking forward to feeling freedom

That comes with adult age

Funny happy childhood memories but you can’t go back

Goodbye to my childhood and teenage years

Reminiscent of youth

Holding it within my heart

Staying young in heart

Enjoy your celebrations

Regardless of age

Everyone enjoyed your celebrations of life

Living happily together in this world we call home

Celebrate regardless of age

Happy Birthday!

By: S. Uzmee 07.12.2020

The Lonely

The Lonely

I am not a single

ordinary little woman

I married a handsome, lovely husband

Given two beautiful children and a grandchild

I have a warm, cozy house

and own traveling vehicles

I am living in the land of opportunity, the dream country

Enjoying my life within this world

Sometimes I am secretly lonely in my heart

Missing my Mom and Dad

left toward heaven, thought they’d live with us

forever

I am also missing my lovely childhood friends

In breezy old Ulaanbaatar city streets

Talking and walking, enjoying the moment

Reminiscent of my childhood home

small and welcoming

No longer living under one roof forever

With my sisters and brothers

I dream about kind humanity

Hoping the kindness could come back to us

Wishing peace to settle upon the beautiful universe

From infants to the elderly, appreciate this world

I wake up to the sound of chirping birds

Sometimes, nobody guesses my inner loneliness

Only I understand myself, and I uplift myself

Living through this life

S. Uzmee 4.20.2020

Mixed

My daughter wrоte this poem while studying at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.  Far away from her home, missing her family and her culture, her poem just melted my heart. I love my daughter, and I am also very proud of her.  

Mixed

A longing to wander
To travel
To be anew
A love for the blue sky
Life-giver
It's in my blood
My mother taught me our culture
The Mongol way of life
Old and new
Ancient and modern
We are nomads naturally
Wishing to travel
Welcoming others with food and shelter
Serenity is found in the blue sky
So as my heart wanders
My mind is filled with curiosity
My blood is mixed
My father's face is white
His blood European
With only a small percentage of Cherokee
From his grandmother
My great-grandmother
Often, I was told I'm not enough
Not pure enough to be a proud Mongol
But my heart still wanders
I still yearn to travel
I still find comfort in the blue sky
I hear my mother singing
Mongolian lullabies
And still see our tapestry of
Genghis Khan in my old home
I have the Mongol flag proudly waving in my car
And I still hold love for both my countries 
Mongolia and America
I am a proud Mongol
Mixed blood does not make me any less
I am my mother's daughter
The daughter of a strong Mongol woman
With a stubborn mind, but a giving heart
I still hold dear the values I was taught
For I am Mongol
And I am proud

Written by Catherine T. Pigg  at UNCAsheville NC. 2018