Anna’s Hands

POETRY Aida Takyrbasheva
PHOTOGRAPHER Tri Nguyen

She taught me Kyrgyz bedtime prayer
and culinary magic,

Hoping her hands
will trace the muscle memory
she tried to instill,

of kneading dough
and steaming rice in plov.

“Delightfully fantastic!”

Was the description
of the taste
of Anna’s culinary mill.

Her morning voice
ran through my ears
like an alarm clock,

reminding my stubborn
six-year-old self,

it’s time to wake.

On weekends
this seemed tragic.

"Come on, Apulya!
I've got no desire
to wake and shake."

She'd trick me into picking off fresh berries

so she can stir up raspberry jam,
on the spot.

To complement the crepes
I loved so dearly,

she would whip up quickly.

Just my luck.

Her grounding rituals

of cold water
and warm affection,

to this day
I carry as my life hacks.

Her glamour,
leadership,
and ability to form connections,

are steady anchors

I can lean on

when life cracks.

Aida Takyrbasheva is a poet, founder and storyteller with Central Asian roots (Kyrgyzstan) whose writing explores memory, ritual, love and the small inheritances that quietly shape us. A self-described polymath, her work spans technology, growth strategy and human experience. She advises and builds ventures while remaining deeply curious about the inner landscapes that shape us. Raised between cultures, she often traces poetry back to the experiences that shape us, from bedtime prayers to heartbreak, courage and becoming. A nomadic heart based between Europe and the US, she finds meaning in fleeting moments and everyday ceremonies. She is the author of the forthcoming poetry collection Everything Is Fleeting, arriving in July 2026.

Find her on Substack: https://letterstoai.substack.com/