Notes About The Poem

the home of glare

(a story in senryu stanzas)

I get migraines.
- lucky me - glare can set me
off within seconds.

I always have a
pair of dark, polarized shades
with me - it’s a quirk.

When I was fourteen,
we lived in Shenzhen, China
very near Macau.

Macau, China, the
“Las Vegas” of Asia, is
the home of glare.

The Ritz-Carlton, has
a glittering galaxy
of bright chandeliers.

Those chandeliers move,
their silhouettes change shape - just
stab me with a spork.

Did I mention the
Mirrors? Every wall served to
magnify the light.

“You look awful,” my
mom said - our two week booking
became ten minutes.

“I just need sunnies,
those would work,” *then I gasped*
“I’ll look glamorous!”

We changed hotels, but
what a small world - my roommate
Leong grew up there.

We could have passed in
the yè shì as teenagers
and now we're roommates.
.
.
sunnies = sunglasses (UK slang)
yè shì = night market (simplified Chinese)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Rodgers Avatar
March 2, 2024 at 3:29 PM
Dear Anais, Your senryu stanzas really bring out your struggles with migraines and the relentless assault of glare. Your journey from discomfort to unexpected connections was fascinating and heartfelt. I know headaches but not the battle with migraines and can only imagine. This such a personal tale into poetic form, showing us of life's intricate intersections amidst discomfort. Blessings, My Friend, Daniel
Vionet Avatar
March 2, 2024 at 7:36 PM
Migraines aren’t a huge problem for me - actually I have no huge problems at all, truth be told. I know my migraine triggers and I avoid them. I might get one or two a year and although they shut me down - I need a dark quiet place - some get them much worse (I’ve been told). I like the senryu format - it forces me to focus.
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