by Samantha Lê 

silvery faces 
the color of molt skin 
odors tasting 
of rice wine and warm 
dish towels pinch 
shut egret eyes 
the old-timers gum 
bits of morning gossip 
with the patience 
of those who’ve tasted 
the longest 

lives 

young stranger 
sinks to the bottom 
with ice cubes foam-
stuffed mouth forms 
senseless sounds 
300-yen Orion 
shouldn’t stale 
like centuries-old sorrow 

distances 

between the generations 
isn’t knowledge 
but fright worn 
of varnish in elbow spots
the bar sleeps dreaming 
of fish outside 
miles of coastlines 
soaked in a blind 
ceremonial light 
stones in secret 
pockets grow weighty 

wait 

_ _ _

First published in Two Thirds North (Stockholm University), Stockholm, Sweden, Spring/Summer 2017, pp. 40-41.