Educated Guesses

When did we first prescribe ourselves acquiescence
to treat a malady in other people’s bodies?

(when we learned different)

What made us want to swallow and rinse and rub away
our rich copper into fragile rose?

(when we learned beautiful)

Who flattered us into muttering dogged apologies
about taking too long to reorient ourselves,

(when we learned West)

and why don’t they ever exchange their currency for ours?

Note: An earlier version of this poem was published by HEArt Online in 2016.