Diego Isaias Hernández Méndez, Convirtiéndose en characoteles / Sorcerers Changing into Their Animal Forms (detail), 2013, oil on canvas. Arte Maya Tz’utujil Collection.
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)