Taiwan Flaking Away

 

what is left

of the dream come true in Taiwan

losing heat,

turning sour

what is left when blown away:

the last intact pages of a washed notebook

the leather string round a golden leaf

Chinese folk tales now lint on my clothes.

what reminders have I left?

a bag for dumplings holding swimming gear

a pair of flip-flops from that nice Chiayi hotel 

packages of soup mixed with love 

old clothes and a hard drive 

to bridge my lives

dilapidating

flaking away

but memories stay:

a sachet of perfume from far away

and long ago

but the fragrance remains  

November 12, 2021