By Way of Explanation - Sandra Cisneros

[Larry Robinson]

By Way of Explanation

There is -
I suppose -
a bit of
Madagascar
in me
I never mention. 

And somehow
Amazons
have escaped
your rapt
attention. 

The nose
is strictly
Egypt
for your
information. 

The heart
a cruel
white circle -
pure Bengali. 

Here are the knees
you claim are yours—
devout Moroccans. 

The breasts
to your surprise,
Gauguin's Papeete. 

Pale moon of belly -
Andalusian! 

The hands -
twin comedies
from Pago Pago. 

The eyes -
bituminous
Tierra del Fuego. 

Odd womb.
Embalmed.
Quintana Roo.

	- Sandra Cisneros