Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose Page A

own.
    â€œIacháwanes.”
    â€œIa-chá-wa . . . ,” she tries again.
    â€œ. . . nes,” I finish for her.
    â€œIa-chá-wa-nes.”
    The little bird bobs,
    makes music in his throat.
    I remember the two that flew above
    the first time we met.
    And then it comes to me.
    Her wooden bird,
    the roughness underneath his beak,
    perhaps it is the copper feathers
    iacháwanes wears.
    I cup my hand,
    stroke imaginary wings.
    She doesn’t follow.
    I hook my thumbs together,
    make my fingers fly.
    Slowly Alis smiles,
    pulls the wooden bird from her coverings,
    holds it high enough the creatures
    seem as though they perch together.
    â€œIacháwanes.
    Uncle Samuel’s bird,” she says.
    Tears brighten her eyes,
    but it’s as if she’s come alive.
    Is this why her bird called me,
    wouldn’t let me leave it hidden?
    For her joy to be restored,
    so I’d awake to happiness.

KIMI
    There’s so much risk in our meeting.
    I think of Chogan,
    his arrow drawn.
    â€œBe careful, Alis,” I say,
    my hand upon her wrist.
    She gazes at me curiously,
    tucks the bird inside her coverings.
    Is her montoac enough to keep her safe?

Alis
    Uncle’s gift to me,
    I have received it threefold,
    the first in his giving,
    the second time from Kimi’s hand,
    now today in learning its true name.
    I bid her farewell,
    skip back toward the village,
    reflecting on this perfect day.
    I do not see the man
    until he stands beside me.
    In one sharp instant
    yesterday
    and the arrow
    leap to memory.
    Though his hair falls past his shoulders,
    he wears a crimson doublet.
    â€œMiss Harvie.”
    Now I can breathe.
    It is only Manteo.
    I reach for the leaves
    that surely stick to my hair,
    realize it is bound like Kimi’s.
    â€œIt is dangerous for you to be here on your own.”
    I tug my hair loose,
    plait it hastily,
    secure it with my ribbon.
    He steps aside to let me pass,
    but as he does he whispers:
    â€œIacháwanes.”
    The skin tingles on my arms.
    I do not hesitate in rushing home.

Alis
    My pace has slowed,
    but my heart still races.
    Manteo knows I was with Kimi.
    Will he tell what he has seen?
    Near the shed,
    Father stands with George,
    whom he now trains.
    â€œWe must stay safe,” Father’s saying,
    â€œleave before the spring.”
    I cannot pass unnoticed.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Father asks.
    â€œFetching water,” I say,
    hoping the words sound true.
    â€œWhere is your bucket?
    And why are you so filthy?”
    Digging at the wall
    has left my hands
    smeared with mud.
    George studies me knowingly.
    â€œTruly, Alis,
    where is your sense?”
    I have no answer,
    just hasten my steps,
    for I must wash,
    refresh our pail
    before Father arrives home.

Alis
    All morning,
    all afternoon,
    the women bustle about
    to make Mrs. Dare comfortable.
    I wait near the doorway so as not to be a nuisance.
    They bump me,
    step around
    Tommy and Ambrose playing at my feet,
    until Mrs. Archard tells me sharply
    to take the children from the cottage.
    I skip from the doorway,
    the boys’ hands in mine.
    Mrs. Dare’s child
    means my duties with these little ones
    will end after today.
    A baby sleeps,
    cries for milk,
    retires to the cradle.
    My work won’t be so taxing.
    Perhaps, there will be time
    to go to Kimi.
    But I think
    of George’s certainty
    the Indians wait to strike,
    how Father talks
    of leaving before spring.

KIMI
    Since our return
    the men
    have danced each
    evening,
    have crafted arrows
    at the fireside,
    told stories
    of victories past.
    In this way
    they prepare
    for attack.
    Wanchese says
    the English are cruel,
    hasty, undisciplined,
    slaughtering all before them,
    while we
    wait for the perfect moment.
    We fight
    with precision.
    I fear for what
    this means
    for Alis.
    We
    were able to go
    to our mainland village.
    But there is nowhere
    she
    can run.

Alis
    Mother’s scream rips me from my