mama tells a story

of west wind / of cobblestone / of lakes / of river / of fish stalls / of a communist street turn/ed cosmo/politan attraction / of dumpling soup and / of duck blood / of ocean (nai nai’s birth song) / of chrysanthemum tea / of a terra cotta / vernacular of this salted earth / of palm of lotus god/dess or / listen / of red groves / of the opera house by the lion’s mouth of / trans/lation/(trans)/gressive/ form from old hands concrete empire (Orient) / of street caves where shopkeepers / smoke the morning news/paper / of mahjong / games / lost to disappearing street corners / of a nest / a home / of a place to / begin with half/filled / of what / is a question but / last stone left / unturned last supper last fare/well/ what lasts / of starshine / of wolfberry moon / of silhouette of eye / of hand / of mouth / of breast of / wound i cut / for myself / i cut / to the shape of your body / so you may sleep