Assisi: An Online Journal of Arts & Letters Volume 4, Issues 1 & 2 | Page 23

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KUSUMITA P. PEDERSEN

BORN
I was born, like most people,
From the body of a mother.
My eyes were horizontal,
My nose vertical.
I came into the world
Empty-handed:
Five fingers on my right hand,
Five on my left.
When I started to walk,
I put one foot
In front of the other.
When I started to speak,
I put one word
Next to another.
Is there a people anywhere
That does not walk –
That does not dance?
Is there a people anywhere
That does not speak –
That does not pray?
Adorning their bodies,
They dance the dance
Of every body.
In their own words,
They pray
The prayer of all words

!!Assisi!!!17!