My Indian In-laws

 I remember India:
palm trees, monkey families,
fresh lime juice in the streets,
the sensual inundation
of sights and smells
and excess in everything.

I was exotic and believable there.


I was walking through dirt
in my sari, 
to temples of the deities
following the lead
of my Indian in-laws.

I was scooping up fire with my hands,
glancing at idols that held no meaning for me,
being marked by the ash.


They smiled at the Western woman,
acting religious, knowing
it was my way of showing respect.

It was an adventure for me
but an arm around their culture for them.

To me it was living a dream
I knew I could wake up from.

To them it was the willingness
to be Indian that pleased.

We were holding hands
across a cultural cosmos,
knowing there were no differences
hearts could not soothe.

They accepted me
as I accepted them,
baffled but in love
with our wedded mystery.

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