Why Wonder, Why Wander?
by Emily Bailey
The kitchen window wasn’t closed last night.
You always close the window, Jaan.
To keep the wanderers away,
or else they will steal all our persimmons.
The kitchen window should have been closed last night,
but he forgot to— he let the wanderers inside.
We must cut and eat the persimmons now,
not let them sit idle any longer.
We are lucky that they didn't snatch any up.
The boy would help Mama cut all the persimmons,
not wanting to leave any behind to be stolen.
Baaba will balter into the kitchen soon.
My Jhansi, Let's cut the seeds open then.
Let them wanderers know that they will reap what they sow.
The young boy would do as instructed,
and cut open the persimmon seeds.
The shape of a knife,
embedded in the dead center of the cotton colored cotyledon.
The winds will cut the wanders like no other.
He will look through kitchens window
to see their oh-so opulent orange persimmon tree.
Mama is always right it seems,
although he can’t help himself from
wondering why wanderers seem to be so wicked.