the red and orange of your dress

by Ellen Carter

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

 

It is difficult to keep up with Ellen Carter because she keeps changing her address. She has poems in AGNI 3 and is now workinga s an Editorial Assistant on John Hopkins’ Alumni magazine. (Spring 1975)