To Angelina, Whose Chinese Name Means Happiness

She lies naked, five days old,
a chance that history might be kindness and love,
a chance the size and strength of her hands -
the rarest Chinese-American beauty,
certain to break hearts.
May she teach her children Mandarin,
Du Fu and calligraphy,
however busy the city.

May she know the joy of singing,
may she play a musical instrument,
may she find her own way in the wilderness.
Under the seven halts in the sky,
may she and her brother who is four
having sucked from the breast
of one mother, swear on her dark nipple
...