A Perfect Lady

She sits at the airport waiting for her flight;
Butterflies have waged a war against her insides
As she has never made this trip before.

Iron bangles graced her wrists and vermillion stained her feet and forehead.

The butterflies have been replaced by daggered hunger
But the menu lists “oxtail soup”, and she
Cannot see the choices for fear of the “Other.”

Iron bangles graced her wrists and vermillion stained her feet and forehead.

In place of oxtail, she eats curried eggs
With her new husband. He is a stranger
To her, and she a stranger to this land.

Iron bangles graced her wrists and vermillion stained her feet and forehead.

Her hands craft letter sent home with love
While he catches up on world with Boston Herald
And together, they are far apart still.

Iron bangles graced her wrists and vermillion stained her feet and forehead.

On a whim, he takes her to visit
The conventional lady who sheltered him upon his arrival
He waits for his bride to be criticized.

Iron bangles graced her wrists and vermillion stained her feet and forehead.

Age-blurred eyes are blind to the red part, the
Red mark on the forehead, the many
Bracelets. Her ankles are properly covered.


She laughed. He laughed.
They learned to
Laugh and cry together.