POETRY

Chung Ang

In dreams I see

a path and a light coming from a time

I do not understand

Had you left them on? Wait. Don't wait. I see the shadows,

backing away now.

They snicker and snarl at me, ridiculing

every sentiment of my youth! But

at least they see and remember

all that's left of me.

The Morning Finds Narcissus

Morning finds Narcissus

first up in a tree then in a ditch

by the road

Sun kisses not his cheeks and the roosters

do not call for fear of waking him

Narcissus is left to fend for himself

in the sun and rain and humidity of these tropics he is unused to

Stumbling in his every step

blinded is Narcissus and cannot see

the consolation that his mind has fallen into light

And his heart burns for the perfect image of another

But fear not my Narcissus

a change will come to carry us through

this morning once more

I can feel this, so take it now while I still do

even if it only means very little

For I am the reflection you are forbidden from seeing

remember, as you want me to be

Stay here with me, just

for this moment

I want to remember you this way

Again, to the cafe

let’s go

Promise me there,

a work of art

in your gallery

We are only young like this once,

after all

open and beautiful like it’s nothing,

able to discount

heartbreak as an affordable thing

Sketch me in pencil,

if you don’t mind the stain of lead

And you may mark me with any colour

to your liking, cause I’ve come up with this oath to:

never complain under circumstances of desire, and

never yield to any irksome authority of conscience or good sense

just for today

it’s for a good cause

after all

and it’s all going to be okay, anyway

So that you

may remember me too in this moment

As you want me to be