Written on a Fan

Poetry Month, day 6


Written on a Fan

Dear Sister, you are far,

but I send you this beautiful fan

in remembrance. Perhaps

you will send one back to me

by the same messenger?

There are tiny birds

in the reeds by the river.

They chirrup to each other

as we did in our small voices

when we were children –

when we first made our vows

to each other, to be always

faithful Sisters of the soul.

Now we have our own children

and we love and care for them.

But in our hearts there is another life.

I tell you, Sister, I am a Queen,

sharp as a sword. Tempered by pain,

I am flexible yet strong. I keep

this image steadfast. See me!

When we hold each other

in our hearts, as our visions,

those visions grow within. Outwardly

we smile meekly, eyes downcast.

It is an armour we wear. A disguise.

The birds are leaving the reeds.

It will soon be dark. At first light

the messenger will set out

with letters of business 

from my husband to yours.

And he will carry, wrapped

in pretty cloths, this gift for my Sister,

a courtesy between women.

Soon you will write your reply.

It will name you prowling tiger.

At "imaginary garden with real toads" Sherry based her prompt, Speaking in the Voice of Another on stories of a secret language of women in feudal China, where 

"A young girl was matched with a lifelong best friend, or soul sister, called her laotang, with whom she communicated by letter. Sometimes these messages were inscribed on fans, which were passed back and forth."

This intrigued me, so I have tried to imagine what such a correspondence might consist of. There is a novel on the subject,"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", and a movie made from it. I am so fascinated, I bought the ebook, but did not look at it before writing this poem. (I also plan to see the movie, and if possible also a documentary that exists, about nu shu, the secret language.)

PS I wasn't far into the book when I had an extreme reaction, with faintness and nausea, to the chapter on foot binding. I could not continue and will not see the film, as I am told it is treated pretty gruesomely there too. No doubt such things should not be glossed over, but I personally can't cope with them.