I am deciding which language to spend the night in
— Akosua Zimba Afiriyie-Hwedie
Siniza yendesa. I won’t rush.
I don’t want to choose a mouth tonight.
Undress first in Nyanja.
Brush
with English.
Rinse
in Nyanja. And repeat, again.
Make my bed with English. Spread
the sheets in Nyanja. Wear my mother’s shirt
again. I cannot leave her
without taking something.
I break the Nyanja words my mother gives me.
Keep to myself what I take from her.
Siniza yendesa. I won’t rush.
I won’t slip on all I know and misname everything.
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