Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
May you have wings to delight in lands feared by men
and eyes cut finer than a diamond
Curiosity that remains forever fierce and young
A spirit humble, relentless and strong
and on the bleakest
heart-breaking winter nights
always find
a welcome home
in a freshly warm
mound of dung
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2009
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
I will know when the end is near
how I wasted these golden years
the stories of the wise and dear
will not save me from what I fear
this weary face that was never mine
let's take off, leave it behind
as home becomes a place to find
for once in my life, I'll take my time
so snap my spine and fire this bow
count the rings that begin to show
singing to me more years than I know
it's time we finally let ourselves go
no shame or stones or sins to atone
here where we are, new and alone
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2009
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
fifty years
this house stood against
the tide of generations
leaving in its wake
lizards and roaches
still weaker
we wield hammers
and peer at each other
through glass windows
the masks went on
hauling the debris of years
to the curb
we came here to rebuild
we said, as the stove
hung its head and the fridge
slipped quietly out the door
teal paint chips
snowed in the kitchen
but couldn't touch us
in three hours
the sun lit up
soft brown bones
we drove home
as if home was
external, separate
from our work
and we were so
blissfully intact
the walls had to come
down first, he told us
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2008
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
drinks wine after school
has far too many
eruptions from
small pitchers
small bowels
paper cuts
budget cuts
that terrible mother
racism filtered
a 6 year old prism
and crayons
all over
the floor
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2010
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
"our budget allows for
one janitor, and that spot
is taken,"
is what he said
before he took one
look at my credentials
"sir, I come to ask
about the teller job,"
I says and he just
leaves
turns around to say
"come back in 25 years"
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2011
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
who knows why
we are drawn
to the dark places
in people's lives
my daughter said
she wouldn't want
that grief and
death stuff all day
inching in
holding hands
wouldn't you
do something
differently if
you had more time
maybe there
was a talk
or not a very
good one about it
we wonder if
we should have
done more
psychosocial comfort
sensitive improved
continuity of care
there is no cure
so we focus on
higher quality
life affirming
in the midst of
life limiting
not hospice. they
have more than
just six months
left usually and
we just thought
there should be
a structure of care
set up for this
kind of thing
Feb. 22, 2009 - 1:18 AM
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2011
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
on dark nights
I think of friends
shining across continents:
a constellation
whose form is yet unnamed
whose nature is love
I remember you
I remember this
small moments cupped in my hands
an offering to our great becoming
wherever I go
I carry your light
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2014
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
the sky upends
as we cut the lake
quick white strokes
in the dark current
the flow of bodies
a single bright ripple
somewhere in the space
between the blade tip
and water, it occurs:
the mind releases
the rain falls
silver salt scales
bloom across
our arms and backs
rising, falling
like the breath
of a dragon
coursing out
each jagged
exhalation
all returns to water
the dull roar
in the distant horizon
calls us home
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2011
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
you are the rigid lines
of a spine unseen
you are my bonsai woman
you are my broken queen
the instep of a dancer
inclined impossibly
you are Venus famished
with flies beneath her feet
you are the victor, her valor,
the sword deep in her chest
you are my iron maiden
and I shall have no rest
not until you are
mine plus mine are we
do I take you to be
lawfully wed to me
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2010
|
Details |
Julia Cheng Poem
I don't know racism
but I do know
that woman
screaming
in my face
well, I didn't stand for that
even if I had to grab
the neighbor's kid
to translate for me
that woman
looking down
on my Chinese face
I had Julia write
a Formal Complaint
the principal agreed
and did nothing
a weak woman
just imagine if I knew english
the hardest thing
was letting them walk on us
timid and quiet Chinese
hah!
no Chinese in government
no social services
no translators
I came too early
Copyright © Julia Cheng | Year Posted 2011
|