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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