Time, pinker than the dots
on her blue shirt. A name
wasn't decided because
the lama was travelling
in a foreign country. We
were careless with our
affections. Tiny clouds
were stitched on the baby's
cap. Would she need
happiness or money?
Clouds are for the sky,
says the elder. Breasts
are for milk. Would
we have walked across
the mountains if we
listened to our feet?
~
First came pictures of animals
not found in our zoo.
Then apparatus assembled
for our benefit because
we had no money in the bank.
Even in the old country
grass was boiled for dinner.
We learn from our elders
so when they said we were
poor, we knew our job
as children. The eldest
gave up school so the youngest
could be polished for reward.
How does this translate in
your language? How can
it be that the rich are thin and
the poor are fat where you live
wrote a little boy from far away.
______________________
Tsering Wangmo Dhompa
In the Absent Everyday
Apogee Press
2002
Tsering was raised in India and Nepal
