Frida Kahlo

Her language close to mine
I read the scrolls on self-portraits

She calls her body a Judas
paints to exorcise pain

Single eyebrow
dark accusing eyes

Why this broken spine
betrayal by lovers?

She mocks sorrow with skulls
sings life with rainfall of milk

Her brush dipped in blood
explores earth, sky

examines her own hair
a coronet of tresses

swirling round the neck
changing into roots

Hair on the floor
cut to spite a lover

She's a Tehuana, mother and child
embraced by brown and blue hands

Gangrene eats her feet
‘Why do I want them
if I have wings to fly?’

Viva la Vida, her farewell
a plate of cut watermelons

In her diary she writes
‘Espero alegre la salida
y espero no volver jamas

I hope the ending is joyful
I hope never to return.’

About the Poet
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Carla Sari has been writing poetry and prose for 15 years. In the past she worked as auxiliary nurse, as teacher, interpreter, translator and ethnic consultant. She has been published both in Australia and overseas.