The Dream of a Lacquer Box

I wish I knew the contents and I wish the contents

Japanese —

like hairpins made of tortoiseshell or bone

though my braid was lopped off long ago,

like an overpowering pine incense

or a talisman from a Kyoto shrine,

like a Hello Kitty diary-lock-and-key,

Hello Kitty stickers or candies,

a netsuke in the shape of an octopus,

ticket stubs from the Bunraku —

or am I wishing for Mother? searching for Sister?

just hoping to give something Japanese to my daughters?

then again, people can read anything into dreams

and I do as well. I wish I possessed

my mother’s black lacquer box

though in my dream it was red,

though I wish my heart were content.