Malak Mattar, Untitled (detail), 2024, charcoal on paper
the red and orange of your dress
the pink silk of your hands
reminds me of the colors
she was
I am Japanese
your face is like hers
the black hair cut closely to your ears
we were Japanese
my fifth birthday
she made me a kimono
to match the one she wore
for ceremonials and feasts
she folded yellow birds
from a smooth and shiny paper
strung them high above my bed
Ellen Carter is now working as an Editorial Assistant on John Hopkins’ Alumni magazine. (updated 1976)