I stare at you on the swing

sweater over your sari, smile

like my mother’s—teeth straight

as a mare’s 

You summon the wind: 

forward, 

back

forward, 

back

Tendrils of hair frame your face,

my mother's cursive 

brushes letters

forward, 

back

forward, 

back                            

your ashen hand reaches          through

the photograph, grabs my wrist 

आओ—

my flesh twists in your grip  you insist, pull me

forward,

आओ—

I open my eyes, find you

pregnant

Feel, you 

command in Nepali 

my selective ear

translates on impact 

you guide my hand 

to your belly

Is this her? 

I ask, anticipating a kick 

below my palm 

Yes, 

you smile at the gift 

of a future girl

तिम्रो आमा 

     (this we know)  

I follow you through the house

not-yet-destroyed

you never saw the earthquake 

relief cushions my voice

Oh छोरी, 

your head tilts in pity

I have weathered

many rumblings—

this house reverberating 

through the years

with yells 

I hold back explaining how

earthquake is different

I wonder at the Nepali word

for reverberate

uncles fill narrow hallways, 

tall and lithe in school uniforms

they do not see me

I am your 

shadow

swollen

with your pregnant belly.∎