"Suicide Note," by Janice Mirikitani, is about an Asian American college student who commits suicide by jumping from her dormitory window. This poem is read as the suicide note that was left behind by this young woman. Her last thoughts and feelings were left on this note, describing why she did what she did. The pressure to succeed that this student felt from herself and her parents was far too much to overcome.
             This poem begins by describing some of the harsh feelings associated with failure. She starts by writing "not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough." These phrases are repeated throughout the poem. For one reason or another, this woman felt that her accomplishments were not perfect, therefore not worthy. She is not congratulated on how well she does. She apologizes for failing to achieve a perfect four-point grade average. She says "Each disappointment, ice above my river." Failure stops her river from flowing, as if it stops her heart from beating. Because of these failures, she strives to work harder, in turn setting herself up to fail once again. Many of these emotions only existed because she did not feel that her parents were pleased.
             A majority of this note was written as an apology to her parents for not fulfilling their wants and desires. "I apologize for disappointing you. I've worked very hard. not good enough. harder, perhaps to please you. (167)" She carries with her this burden for not becoming everything her parents wanted her to be. She worked to her potential, and gave extra effort to please them. Her parents expected too much, and for that reason she was never able to make them happy. She wishes that she were a son because that way her parents would not expect her to do as well in school. "I would see...the golden pride reflected in my fathers dream of my wide, male hands worthy of work and comfort. I would swagger through l...