my hand was cut off
I stood there bleeding, crying.
But when my tears dried,
I convinced myself it was nothing.
I am in college now,
I learn things now.
Yet when I return I don’t even know how to talk
without sounding so damn condescending
what’s wrong with you, this is your cousin
I think
When I return, I complain about their body language
You’ve been away too long, you’ve forgotten our ways, my girl!
he laughs
I look down to where my hand once was
my body still functions
I run further, further forwards
Don’t worry grandma I’m not that far away
This is how you are educated, you leave
I run farther, farther away
Yet when I reach back,
claim I am still connected,
claim I still know what it’s like to be there
I cannot reach
because I cut off my own hand