Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Nu


is the modern
symbol for woman,
female, girl, daughter.

In the ancient Oracle bone
inscriptions she is a woman
on her knees, arms lowered
crossed in complete
subservience.

Later, she stands up
but her waist and legs are still bent,
an obedient respectful daughter.






To me
always looked like
a girl with a hat,
or woman with arms stretched,
baby in belly.

I used to practice writing
and other characters
at a wooden table
for my mother’s nickels
as she read wuxia novels.

At night in bed she would
trace strokes with her fingertips
on my back
and I would guess
her words.

A sharp angle first,
followed by a soft curve,
finished with a level
straight line.

That’s how you write woman.
That’s how you write nu.




("Nu" won third place in the 2009 Women Who Write contest.)