Belonging to Both | Teen Ink

Belonging to Both

May 4, 2015
By Ray--yo PLATINUM, Kathmandu, Other
Ray--yo PLATINUM, Kathmandu, Other
43 articles 2 photos 581 comments

Favorite Quote:
God Makes No Mistakes. (Gaga?)
"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." -Liesel Meminger via Markus Zusac, "The Book Thief"


It was in the spring of '94,

she saw him by a bridge in Shanghai

in one of those French hats

photographing the beautiful

(scenery)

and the innocent treachery

led to the autumn of '95

when from under the stars

emerged two figures 

one with eyes like the hopes

of a new-moon night

and the other with a grin

and one knee muddier

than the next

as the stars above led

to the winter of '96

when a house

down south

shattered itself with anger

and love

and she left within voices asking

what good could come

of a love

made in China;

If only they could know

how after sixteen summers,

her footsteps lead back

to the Marbled humidity,

as she puts my timid hand

on his wrinkled skin

and these lips

used to both the sounds

of Namastes

and Nihau

only smile in silence, hoping

she has brought him

something good.



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This article has 4 comments.


on Nov. 1 2015 at 2:50 am
Ray--yo PLATINUM, Kathmandu, Other
43 articles 2 photos 581 comments

Favorite Quote:
God Makes No Mistakes. (Gaga?)
"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." -Liesel Meminger via Markus Zusac, "The Book Thief"

Wow, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.

Hanban12 ELITE said...
on Oct. 8 2015 at 10:47 pm
Hanban12 ELITE, Lake Worth, Florida
133 articles 7 photos 631 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."
Henry David Thoreau

"I fell in love the way you fall asleep; slowly, and then all at once."
John Green

I absolutely adore this poem. I found myself re-reading multiple lines just to experience them once more. I love this style, too: the lack of periods until the end, which kind of allows the reader to interpret the poem as if it were a band of intricate thoughts. Thank you for writing this, it's definitely one of my favorites, and deserves more recognition.

on May. 19 2015 at 7:35 am
Ray--yo PLATINUM, Kathmandu, Other
43 articles 2 photos 581 comments

Favorite Quote:
God Makes No Mistakes. (Gaga?)
"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." -Liesel Meminger via Markus Zusac, "The Book Thief"

Thank you! I didn't really intend for the parenthesis to be like Jade's, though I'm really pleased to know this poem somehow reminded you of her brilliant work. This is not a real story, though the idea does vaguely come from my personal experiences. Once again, thanks for the feedback.

Beila BRONZE said...
on May. 15 2015 at 3:01 am
Beila BRONZE, Palo Alto, California
3 articles 0 photos 516 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." -Mark Twain

The format and story are both so beautiful. I like the intriguing use of parentheses there- is it intentionally like Jade.I.Am's "wish on me"? Your imagery and flow really work to create the seamless and elegant effect of this poem. I'm curious; is this inspired by an abstract idea or a real life story? The emotion is tangible throughout.