I Didn't Give Birth to My Mother
by Yarita Misako
Mini Fumi Sep. 2002, p. 6
translated by John Solt
I didn't give birth to my mother
in a coolish summer 45 years ago I didn't give birth to my mother
my breasts swelled and my womb hurt
but I didn't give birth to my mother
the umbilical cord supposedly folded in Japanese paper was already lost
in that way I didn't give birth to my mother
I gave birth to myself
while tasting
the pleasure of being all alone and the labor pains called freedom
I gave birth to myself
a dream without impossiblities and such
a protruding nail unable to be hit back in
words that keep burning
were born
I give birth to myself
I gave birth to such a burned up self
I didn't give birth to my mother but easily to myself
on an abortion table I spread my legs wide open and gave birth to myself
while blessing myself for being able to exist alone
I gave birth to myself
during a coolish summer when the rice ears wouldn't grow all alone
I easily gave birth to such a burned up self