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