A young Newar girl of Kathmandu marries a bel fruit, the wooden apple carved from the sacred bael tree, who symbolizes Vishnu, for protection against stigma and discrimination of widowhood. In a two day ceremony, flowers, rice, bananas, and prayers are given as an offering for a good husband, to give their daughter greater freedom under the security of a divine husband. In the second wedding at eleven or thirteen, she will marry the sun, sleeping twelve nights in a dark room, the third wedding to a man. Some Christian women marry God instead of a husband. The wooden apple does not rot like fresh fruit. Similarly, God’s love is perfect, love everlasting. Whereas people are fallible and will not always be there. I want to marry the sun, the warmth and energy that nourishes my skin and makes flowers grow, origin of life. Or I’ll be like a hummingbird and belong to the wind, to the sky, to the journey between continents, to each moment. I want my first marriage to be to my God, who knew me before I was born, who knows my heart and understands my grief. A well in the desert, the most powerful. The one who defeats death. As a woman living in this world, but not of this world, no one can own my soul. by malaya luaLHATIArtist Statement: I am Filipina and was born in the United States. Drawing, writing, and hiking in the wilderness are my favorite things to do. Many things inspire me: eating ripe, fresh fruit, watching my garden grow, my dreams, people I meet, interesting sounds, the feeling of sunshine on my skin during summer, and my fears and desires. Poetry is amazing because it gives us so much freedom to express ourselves.
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