As we have seen before, immigrants and their children often feel torn
between America and the old country. Song recognizes that had she
been born in the old country of China:
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she might have been "Jade" rather than "Cathy."
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Her feet might have been bound, and she would have had to learn "to walk
in shoes / the size of teacups."
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She would have been physically confined: "To move freely was a luxury /
stolen from them at birth."
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She would have had to learn patience.
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She would have had to make the rice last for the whole family.
What has she lost in the new life? She can stride normally,
and even walk by the man (in China, women walk behind), but she's no longer
Jade, the precious green stone. And like her ancestors, she leaves
no footprints behind.