Uma

*A poem inspired by my reading of one half of Anita Desai's novel Fasting, Feasting. ------------------------ (for HS) Closed up to the gills a girl roils, regrettably-- with empty tray, stands like a party doll (in pigtails) eyes thick, collapsible like every shunted jasmine Uma, like every collapsible ode to sun-whips silent tides, deep dark Uma, my wounded water bird (2016)