Nabokov and his wife will understand
and smile, I think (don’t you?), when you unwrap
this tardy Christmas present, hold in hand
this simple binder, open to find scrap
paper (all I could afford) with my ink
drawings of Memoryus Mosesae.
See this first glossed page, she perches behind
bamboo screen—in Japan legend, the way
you know a lover approaches. Next, two
butterflies sail as one—Chinese symbol
of love. Then, Northeast India, where you
learn origins of Manipur’s tribes all
rose from Memoryus. My intention
with the rest? Bless your imagination.
Roger Armbrust
January 10,
2013
