A/N: Written March 20, 2007. Inspired by poet Michael Ondaatje.

Memory

Once I visited Daddy in his study early in the morning
He told me that I wasn't supposed to bother him.
But I caught this pretty bird in Mommy's garden, caught it all by myself
It had red and gold feathers on his head just like grandpa's crown.

Knock, knock.

What is it princess?
Daddy smiled when I showed him my friend
Said he could keep him if he wanted to
But Daddy shook his head, his hair swinging like a horse's tail
He was mine to keep so I held him close in my warm palms
And threw the bird out the window like flower petals.
Just like Mommy used to

I climbed onto his knee and stared at the shining wet ink
Letters spoke out to me the names of my ancestors
And I recognized grandmother's name among them

Daddy touched the top of my head and said,
Your name will go here, as if he knew a little secret
And I giggled although I didn't really know why
It was our little secret, just between him and me.
When daddy passed me the calligraphy pen
And I wrote my name on that paper
- I knew right then

That the world belonged to me
And my name would be written down in these books just like mother's.
I grinned at Daddy, showing him all my perfect teeth
And he said with a smile that I couldn't understand then
Will they remember me, Azula? Will they remember me?