Category: Poems
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The sheets of paper he left on the floor
The sheets of paper he left on the floor before taking a quick turn must have beenhis English coursework. Flicking through it, turning pagesfrom left to right, right to left,I could seehis neat bluehandwriting on every page. Placing it backon the floor, I rememberthe weight of it leaving my handsand thinking, “How will I everwritesomething…
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The Bamboo Garden at Kew Gardens
The Bamboo Garden at Kew Gardens made me think of the filmHouse of Flying Daggers! As for the Minka HouseI stood next to, it really helped me visualise what life must’ve been like in old Japan… Back on the path, I could see it taking me to these large patches of shade under the trees,…
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The unagi sushi
(reworked) Sitting upat the sushi bar in Harrods, my cousin and I were dazzledby the two smallpieces ofunagi sushi before us. The price, though,was so dear,I told my mumnot to order another plate. Years later,when I was in Japan,the sushi that camewith my meal satisfied a hunger my soba noodlesjust couldn’t.When dipped inthe tsuyu sauce…
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The cubes of tofu
The cubes of tofu in the donburi bowl were deep-fried, golden brown, and they satin this pool of scalding hotdashi broth. I was just lookingat the cubes of tofuwhen Dad said, “Don’t have them all, they’re not good for you – share!” So I put down my chopsticks, and took another small sipof tea. Kasumi…
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Staggering
Staggering – drunk – Istruggleto walkin a straight line. It’s just me – it seems – and the streetlights, shop lights, the full moon – so round, yellow – distant. What’s the internationaldialling code for New York?I’ll send you a text about how muchI miss the gang, and how cruel life has beenwithout you guys……
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I take German lessons in the evening
I take German lessons in the evening and this week the countryside in my mind had no forest fires, tsunamis and hurricanes, all thanks to me replacing a bad teacherwith a good one, someone who likesto paint with words… What a difference that has made!I was a few grammar corrections away from telling the teacher,…
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In the cinema
(reworked) In the cinema, before the advertscame on,she rested her head on my shoulder, and I couldn’t help but noticethe red-carpet-red seats around us. We held hands shortly after,and this became one of those dreamsI wishI couldhave againsomeday… Sigh Wan 18/12/2024 (original release) 14/10/2025 (reworked)
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Maybe a diver
Maybe a diver whose toes are like talons on the edge of a platform would feel how I feel when I see Embankment station down the street on my way home from the office, the sky – a dark ocean blue. There are so many people going my way, the other way, crossing the bridge…
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Going to bed early
The back of the sofaI rested my head on Was hard when I pushed down on itBut being quite new, it could still Push back. That night, Like so many others before it, And to come, I clicked away on the Amazon Firestick remote Like I was playing Sonic or Mario Just to find something…
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Unlike the other judges
Unlike the other judgesin their dark suits,his soon-to-beemployer is wearing his signature silk kimono. Cool, he’s impressed withShota’s answers andthe tuna sushi, made from different cutsof the same fish. But his bestis not good enough!Damn it! Still, I rememberthingsworking out for Shotaafter this defeat: he leaves his smallhometownto work for thatjudge, who owns this 120-year-oldsushi…
Lunchdatesonly 