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how we survived: 爺爺’s pantoum (ii)
we wore watermelon husks to hide lost cargo floating east to hong kong water lilies & crickets our last witness we departed the cattailed creek one final time. lost cargo floating east to hong kong new hing dai treaded water, compasses toward freedom we departed the cattailed creek one final time white sharks awaited our legs in the depths. new hing dai treaded water, compasses toward freedom they said we had an 80% chance of making it white sharks awaited our legs in the depths breath + breath × wanting = death an 80% chance of making it letters sent back announced survival. breath + breath × wanting death banked on generations of dreaming letters sent back announced survival. we were promised work in the restaurants banked on generations of dreaming fishermen took pity & reeled us on gasoline tanks. we were promised work in the restaurants i clawed brown earth before collapsing. fishermen took pity & reeled us on gasoline tanks five bowls of rice in hong kong, my sweetest meal. i clawed brown earth before collapsing villagers found us gasping, fish out of water five bowls of rice in hong kong, my sweetest meal. memories escape me now. villagers found us gasping, fish out of water. my thoughts enter one ear & leave the other. memories escape me now. you being here helps me remember. my thoughts enter one ear & leave the other. water lilies & crickets, our last witness. you being here helps me remember we wore watermelon husks to hide.