Here on earth, you will learn,

there are no binary systems,

no twin moons, no twin suns,

no twin trees rising from one root -

what there is, is loneliness:

The universe roars in me.

My mother left me this:

it keeps on knitting, like a witch,

sending its hawk out in vain search

for friends, for a sister I never knew.

The first leaving keeps rehearsing

itself in my head as you grow in me.

I fear what you will find here, but know:

I won't be leaving you.

- Ann-Margaret Lim


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Desolation

In the desolation of a life gone awry

you need noise, noise

to keep out the thoughts that keep ticking,

ticking off your despairing minutes ...

In the desolation of a life gone awry

the sun is a piece of burning

sky, a high hell, and the blood

red rose is a bleeding heart,

its perfume, a stink of memories

that need to be disposed of.

In the desolation of a life gone awry

my heart is an empty cavity

open way too wide ...

Where to run with nowhere to run?

What to do with nothing to do?

Accept? Reject? Carry on?

I don't know, thanks to you ...

- Maia Chung