possessively he grabs my wrist

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

i am not alarmed he refers to it often

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

‘you see this?!’ he is shouting

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

his uncle stands in the doorway smiling down at him

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

he is enraged at his passivity

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

‘do you know what this means?’ he raises my arm as high as it will go

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

i do not mind, gently i stroke his hair

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

his uncle shrugs his hands open

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

‘you don’t now what it means.’

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

he is frustrated bringing my wrist to his eye level

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

he meets his uncle’s eyes

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

pointing at my wrist he shouts

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

‘it means this is my mommy.’

Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi

‘and no one else.’

It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten

amen.