household items
standing solitary around the table
placed there as we walked by
on the way to other places
now, in the cold
my fingertips tapping icily at my keyboard
i stare them down
hoping for inspiration
they are transient things
scattered starkly on a large white table
i could write this as a still life
imbue each item with meaning
or tell its true story
the bird is a whistle
a gift from a friend when she returned from the Philippines
it sounds a clear, high note
the sharp beak and carefully painted eyes are my favorite details
the shape and the colors both are comforting
it is cute,
in the way of tchotchkes and mementos
given in friendship
draped with ancillary stories
the tea is not filled with love
nor is it filled with caffeine
i brought it home after a rough grocery trip experience
during which i realized,
standing in front of an aisle of tea
that i was far too tired to be making these choices
finally i chose a box of assorted bedtime teas
and the familiar green Twinings box for the mornings
syd asked me later why i bought decaf
because everything was too hard that day
that’s why
syd’s right
this tea is gross and sad
ii.
the imaginary stories
the bird was a gift from an ex
i tried to throw it away once
but retrieved it in tears from the trash
the decaf tea
was a promise to myself
to take better care of my body
to cut out my vices
in hopes of bartering for a better night’s sleep
but both are just reminders
of all the things i have trouble forgetting
so i leave them on the table, untouched
i don’t have the heart to stow them away
nor the strength to reach out and touch them
audrey kuo 