don't touch me
your hand looks dirty …
gaping at his injured boss
he leaves his own brown hand
suspended in midair
Added: reading between the lives and writing between the lines, XVI
for Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: The truth is we can survive our lives, but not our skin. But you know this already.
drinking with me
this grey-haired migrant bemoans
his skin color
the first thing he knew of
and yet knew nothing about
Added:
the monks chanting
at a new temple
in this promised land
his Chinese eyes shiny
as gongs resound in his heart
