TO MY MOTHER, AFTER HER STROKE

PUBLISHED POETRY INCLUDED IN MY FORTHCOMING COLLECTION: LETTERS TO NOWHERE

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dust dropped particles of light 

around you. and i saw 

in your eyes, your dark-stained 

earthen eyes, all that was left 

in your world was crumbling 

in those translucent moments—

your peonies vanishing from

from the side garden

the full moon, engulfed by wild mint, 

tightly wrapped around memories. 

all else was done.

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Originally published in The Hong Kong Review (print), June 2023