the other one

at kita they say
i’m dunkel
dunkle haare
dunkle augen
dunkle haut

mama says
you’re not dark
you’re like me
we’re the other ones

i say that too
when my words get lost
“die andere”
or “the other one”
it used to be “yo yo yon”
now it means both of me

i like ketchup
but i like kecap more
i eat mac and cheese with abon
mettbrötchen with furikake

i mix the flavors
because i belong to all of them

i like the airport
the baggage cart
apfelschorle from the lounge
a pretzel for the way

i sit still on the plane
because soon
i’ll see people
who look like mama
and me

and maybe 
the other one