what is to be done in ballet class
when you find your hand extended in abhaya mudra
and French fails to describe
your body now
you learned abhaya mudra from your mother
but your mother has no tongue you learned
abhaya mudra from a plaque tacked to a
white wall
you learned white walls from your mother
you learned white walls turn you tongueless
and Vishnu
stands before you
sees with eyes garnet
what he fails to preserve
stone, are we
together tongueless—speak!
that I were to embrace you
garnet granite grandfather
alarms
in prayer I am
escorted out of the Met.
