“Repatriation: Lakshmi-Narayana” by Chloe Martinez

Repatriation: Lakshmi-Narayana
Kathmandu, Nepal, 2021

people crowded through the streets
carrying the god/ess

I wasn’t there / I saw it on the screen

the palanquin pitching like a joyful
ship on a shoulder-sea

then into the temple

two strong men
eased her/him back
into the old place

the shining articles
went onto her/his divine
limbs and the strong men bent

quickly to touch their heads
to her/his feet and I’m going to say
there was a slight planetary

shimmy / breath / sigh

as far as I could ascertain
from this distance

when ornaments went—perfect fit—
on the smooth stone wrists
they were made for

then the light
found them / turned gold
turned god/ess
came back to us all.

Chloe Martinez

Chloe Martinez is the author of the collection Ten Thousand Selves (The Word Works) and the chapbook Corner Shrine (Backbone Press). Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, POETRY, Prairie Schooner, Shenandoah, Beloit Poetry Journal and elsewhere. See more at www.chloeAVmartinez.com.

Headshot: Chloe Martinez

Photo Credit: Staff