by Janice Mirikitani

    "More than gems¹ in my comb box shaped by the

    God of the Sea， I prize you， my daughter. . ."

    Lady Otomo， 8th century， Japan

    A woman weaves

    her daughter's wedding

    slippers² that will carry

    her steps into a new life.

    The mother weeps alone

    into her jeweled sewing box

    slips red thread

    around its spool³，

    the same she used to stitch

    her daughter's first silk jacket

    embroidered⁴ with turtles

    that would bring luck， long life.

    She remembers all the steps

    taken by her daughter's

    unbound quick feet：

    dancing on the stones

    of the yard among yellow

    butterflies and white breasted sparrows.

    And she grew， legs strong

    body long， mind

    independent.

    Now she captures all eyes

    with her hair combed smooth

    and her hips⁵ gently

    swaying like bamboo.

    The woman

    spins her thread

    from the spool of her heart，

    knotted to her daughter's

    departing

    wedding slippers.

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