maybe

silver and gray

is for young desi children

who weren’t pretty enough

underneath the american sun

in my mind

ugly gujju girls

with olive skin

and scarred thighs

could never be gold

until the wedding bells ring

aku, bhouth achha hai,

you look pretty in green

another wedding

and a soft stomach on display

birthmarks leaving brown spots

arey, ye kya hai, your figure

resembles a dancer

flashbacks are dizzying

age seven, bollywood dance class

in the center of mumbai

wearing nylon leopard print

faded gold

something will change.

silver studs in the helix

silver nose stud

tears when the needle

pushes through

her jhumkas carries memories

they’re too heavy for you

but things are changing.

silver shirt

white jeans

gold shoes