MaybeMaybe
she wrote me back
or drew me her world
When we get letters from the outside
we line up and collect the envelopes
like it’s payday
We can’t buy anything with these words
Empty, sweet promises from people
whose love was not enough to keep us free
I don’t open the ones from Umi
I don’t open the ones from Grandma
but seeing her name again sends a wave
over me like hearing new music
for the first time
I hold the one from Zenobia
close to my chest
and save it for later
It’ll be there waiting for me
for when I need a cool drink of water
after another war