Nine Months Worth Of Poetry
your father holds me in his arms
like a flower
he makes monkey faces when the receptionist takes too long to call my name
he waits outside the door with my bag in his arms
because hospitals here won’t let men in
I wish he could’ve heard you breathe
and seen how little you are
I wish he could have wiped my tears because I was asked to put my hands over my head
and watch the screen
you father tells me he loves us
and plans his whole life around us
he walks me to the car
making sure I don’t step on my jainsem*
or trip down the stairs
he asks if I need more water
or if now that I’m finally smiling
I’d like more food
your father takes us home and for the first time in a long time
i knew your father was mine forever
*jainsem – khasi traditional attire in Meghalaya
Written by Yadawanka Pala
Directed and edited by Naphtali Jordan Langstieh