"Seventeen Syllables" is a poem by Yoshiko Uchida that explores the experiences of a Japanese American girl growing up in the United States. The poem highlights the cultural clash between her family's traditional values and the American society around her. The title refers to the structure of a haiku, a traditional Japanese form of poetry that consists of three lines with a total of seventeen syllables. Uchida uses this form to convey the girl's feelings of identity, belonging, and the challenges she faces as she navigates her dual heritage.