It's nearly the end of the night
It's after the cousins have finishedwith their choreographed dancesafter the henna has dried on my hands
My aunt, the brides' mother, comes upto her sisters and sisters-in-lawLet's get on the dance floorshe says, It's our time now
Then let's go, let's go, let's gothe bride's mother saysgesturing to the dance floorlooking like she's already dancing
It's the same far away look she haswe have no time to losewe can't waste a single minute, she saysbut she seems also, so far away
at the reception the next day
until the bride and groom
surprise-announce
and everyone is ooh-ing and cryingeven more than usualbecause--you know--we know
and when I finally get to congratulatemy uncle and my aunt
My aunt who's made no mentionof what we all know all weekend longfinally breaks. Gripping my uncle's hand
in a way both hard and tender, she says--I just hope he gets to see the babyshe says, as if there is no time