The separation of a child from the place where he or she was conceived leads to a life of utter helplessness. The sudden change in atmosphere, lifestyle and culture is often too heavy a burden for a young person's mind to fully comprehend. Often the transition is abrupt and sudden – rarely does the person have time to absorb the rapid changes. Even though, with time, one may accept the reality of a new environment, the wonder of the place left behind and the unanswered questions always remain in the person's thoughts. Jessica Hagedorn illustrates this concept in her poem “Song for My Father.” The character depicted is trying to understand the reason why the place he visits repeatedly throughout his life always seems to pull him back, without realizing that it is this mystery and impossibility of fully understanding his place of origin which constantly seduces her. Although not explicitly stated, the character in "Song for my Father" appears to represent author Jessica Hagedorn. In a period marked by political instability and nationwide unrest, Hagedorn had to leave the Philippines and his father at the age of thirteen and live in the United States for most of his life. This life event resembles the character and is shown in the first stanzas of the poem. Thus, it can be inferred that the character is a vessel that Hagedorn uses to illustrate the thoughts and images in his mind upon his return to the Philippines. The character's dilemma is immediately exposed at the beginning of Hagedorn's poem. The last lines of the first stanza express this explicitly: “...and I have not yet understood my obsession with returning” (Hagedorn 32). The word "return" in particular alerts readers to the fact that the place being... middle of paper ... he is unaware of her ignorance and the fact that the place she perpetually visits could never be understood. , then it's not illogical to conclude that she'll never truly understand why she keeps going backwards. It is only when she is aware that she will perhaps never fully understand that she will reconcile with herself and realize that it is this "notion" of never knowing what awaits her from another who never ceases to attract him. Only when a person fully accepts the fact that you may never truly understand something will they finally appreciate its meaning. The poem ends on a sad note, with the character returning to America as confused as ever – but who is to say that his journey ends there? Works Cited Hagedorn, Jessica. “Song for my father.” Breaking Silence, an anthology of contemporary Asian American poets. Joseph Bruchac, ed. New York: Greenfield Review Press, 1983. Print.