by Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
the room can be a classroom, gymnasium,
counseling office, or basement.
the red cloth can come in long swaths
or small bits, velvet or tulle
cotton muslin metallic
red
thumbtack these into ceiling corners
drape them over idle fan blades
pin these to the cushions on the floor
a glass bowl of water,
lit candles scattered on its surface,
sits in the center of our cipher
surrounded by the offerings we bring:
a grandmother’s photograph,
a stone from homeland shores,
a cowrie shell found in a thrift shop —
we dress this place with our memories
as ourselves
front-free
defenses laid down
inhibitions untied
let us hear each other as we have never
heard each other before
radiant emanations within these layers of red
doors and windows shut to the world
we receive each other as blessing
as we each learn to receive ourselves
Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai’s website is http://www.yellowgurl.com/