luam/asa-luam

the afterworld sea there was a water song that we sang when we were going to fetch river from the river, it was filled with water sounds & pebbles. here, in the after-wind, with the other girls, we trade words like special things. one girl tells me “mai” was her sister’s name, the word for “flower.” she has been saving this one for a special trade. I understand & am quiet awhile, respecting, then give her my word “mai,” for “water,” & another girl tells me “mai” is “mother” in her language,& another says it meant, to her, “what belongs to me,” then “belonging,” suddenly, is a strange word, or a way of  feeling, like “to be longing for,” & you, brother, are the only one, the only one I think of  to finish that thought, to be longing for mai brother, my brother