I met a young American couple
eager to love
who signed their names on the dotted line
The documents read:
A sweet baby girl who needs a loving family
The birth mother wanted
a better life for her daughter.
Countless rows of
black haired babies
born on the other side of the world
Asleep in rectangle cribs
each with assigned names-
Burden, Mistake, Orphan,
ready to be shipped overseas.
I’ve been told my adoption saved me
I’m a miracle-
lucky to be alive
How could anyone know
that I would grow up to be
invisible?
And when I saw my face in the mirror
I knew that
I could never belong.
The woman asked with conviction,
Certainly you had a better life, though?
I politely smile
And tell her
the happily ever after ending
I know she wants to hear.
