Red spicy rice cake

do not despair in knowing all that work is
for this one serving of red spicy rice cake.
do not look down on this red spicy rice cake.
do you know that with each piece of rice cake,
dreams, sacrifices, and tears of chef were spilt?
do you know that with each piece of rice cake,
you can find a piece of your childhood memory?
so do not despair in knowing all that work is
for this one serving of red spicy rice cake.
it is a good, delicious one.

6.25.2022

Epiphany

one of these days is like winning a lottery.
you say the right thing, think the right way,
and most importantly, you get work done in time.
you are on an adrenaline rush,
you feel what Rocky would feel winning a fight
but the details, preparations, and training matters
keeping your head down and practicing matters
perhaps we just work towards one day
that will make everything worthwhile.

6.23.2022

Window-shopping

yes, there is a tacit mutual understanding
between the part-time storekeeper and I:
I am here to buy nothing but for window-shopping
still, thank you for your kind welcome with formal “hi”
Yes, your hand-made recycled wallets
and bags could be my great friends
but there’s an erroneous zero at the end
of your price tag, my man
so maybe next time when we meet again
do offer an affordable price, my friend

6.20.2022

Parenting

I sometimes imagine what it would be like to have myself as a kid;
a young kid, who depends on me,
who asks me for stuffs that I don’t want to buy,
and who rebels against what I believe in.
maybe I’ll get upset,
maybe I’ll try to persuade the kid,
or maybe I’ll try to manipulate the kid.
so when I see my own parent
be so real with me,
be so honest with me,
and be so pure-minded with me,
my fists melt in gratitude,
my head bows in humbleness,
and my heart swells in love.
It is true:
I am grateful for my parents.

6.17.2022

North Star

I am frustrated to have found myself in a confusion again.
I knew where I was headed.
I knew I did my best then.
but given the place I’ve found myself embedded,
I wonder if I had digressed too much.
I wonder if it is the same North Star that guides me up there.
but what use is it to foresee the future and such
when the fire is raging here everywhere.
I keep my head low
and listen for a wisdom hidden in river flow.

6.14.2022