Upon arrival it’s clear:
English booms from speakers;
television, radio, conversations all around
it should be familiar,
comforting even–
instead the easy rounded sounds
of a language she knows inside out
feels wrong; sounds wrong
Disconnected
she tries to stay up past nine o’ clock;
forcing her body to remember:
this, too, is home,
this,
too,
is
home.
Sonia Chintha is an Indian American writer who lives in the Washington DC area. She blogs, writes poetry, and fiction. She is also an English teacher who believes that our experiences teach us more than any test. She is the founder and co-editor of Good Little Girls.
Illustration by Deema Alawa A Brutalizing Womanhood by Theresa Famatigan angels whose en- gendered wars began eons before they advanced feet in the womb, on
Baby, baby, baby That first time.. my heart fluttered, so severe that my skin shivered; a tiny quake–oh bliss Baby, baby, baby that voice high
2:37am
I wake up
eyes wide open
body is alert
I sit up
Why did I say that?
What are they thinking?
What should I do?