Accustomed

English Translation

Came back home in the dark one night
Parked the car and sat still
KS 95 playing an Ed Shearan song
embraced the little cocoon I was in
danced with my love
barefoot on the grass
like the romance novels I once read
in my youth.
I’ve missed my hugs
for too long a decade.

Shut off the engine
exited the car.
Alas! There’s snow on the ground.
Carried my baggies and little parcels of food
Trekked along snow covered pavers
…………in haste.

Suddenly realized
no keys to enter!
Rummaged thru’ the pocketbook
toiletries, pens,
envelopes stuffed with papers
medicine, wallet with cards,
even a sewing kit
everything
‘cept the house key.

Hesitantly
rang the doorbell
waited…….
Nothing stirred.
I called my love on the phone
several ringtones
almost to the point of messaging
A groggy voice answered
“What?”

“Forgot the house keys”
I whispered.
He hung up.

Waited several minutes
and started to shiver.
Then saw the lights flicker
my love trudged down the stairs
…………slowly.
Noiselessly the door opened
and I went in,
carrying little parcels and baggies
one by one
from the snow outside.

He went back upstairs
…………in silence.

I took off my shoes, hung up my coat
placed food in the fridge
for tomorrow’s meal.

Then,
I picked up my handbag
shut off the lights
and slowly
walked up the flight of stairs
………..in silence.

K.T.M.

K.T.M (Mimi Oo) Mimi is an immigrant from Burma; poems come to me unexpectedly. While working in Burma, two lines of verses came to her and another two lines came 5 years later in America. She has had a poetry collection since Burma though never had the chance to publish her collection. She had two individual poems published in the International Library of Poets in 1999 and 2000.

She has written a poem called,“ The Month of Ramadan” in tribute to her grandma and her parents which was published in the St. Paul Almanac and is attempting to turn this poem into a children’s book for the Islamic Community of the Twin Cities especially for those who longed for the traditions they once knew. She recites poems at several events coordinated by the St Paul Almanac and other institutions.

She is a 2013 Bush Fellow and am assisting other fellow artists from the Burmese/Karen community who are calling MN their new home and considers herself an emerging artist.

Accustomed

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