At a book signing in an Elementary school in California
A little girl
No more than five
Puts her head close to mine
And whispers, “¿Hablas español?”
I answer, “No” in English
Then whisper back.
The few words I know
“Arroz”
“Manzana”
“Elephante”
She smiles in recognition
A new world opened
To the two of us
Barriers broken
Divisions meaningless
In our eyes
Sue Bates
Autumn 2017