From Empire: Triolet for Daughters Born in a Third World Country

4

As the elders taught, I saved the stumps of their umbilical cords,
then dried and strung them through a safety pin to keep them close.
And I named them, oiled their limbs, called the spirits to watch over them—
As the elders taught, I dried and saved the stumps of their umbilical cords.
As they grew, they saw how life cuts through the gourd; I gave them words
for power stirred from the gut, words for kindness, words to dress like bones.
As the elders taught, I saved the stumps of their umbilical cords,
then dried and strung them through a safety pin to keep them close.

 

In response to Via Negativa: Homeless.

2 Replies to “From Empire: Triolet for Daughters Born in a Third World Country”

  1. I like your triolet, Luisa. I once knew a family who lived next door to us who had dried stumps of umbilical cords in a tiny sack hanging by their bed post.

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