Vijay

Is it mine?

Was it ever even

yours?

Who made this?

The tiger claw 

braided in silver neatly with

rubies and 

here around my neck. 

My friend gave it to me

he said it was his family's

that he was from India

and Warrior cast

and they had a grandfather 

who killed the tiger

with his hands.

To be honerable you have to do it that way.

Then he didn't have enough sisters 

so he had two,

and gave one to me.

What shall I do with it?

When I have the bad dreams

the bad bad ones

there is a tiger there who sits in the corner

and protects and doesn't chase or be mean.

He is me and I am him and it is all

tied together.

I don't know what it is.

I don't want to. 

I don't need to.

But thank you.

And as we do in Korea 

here where I live 

where I got it

Bow down low

toes tucked under and touching and hawk wing fingers

on your forehead and straight back

and down to the floor 

to say 

Thank you.