Bones

Bones

     When I washed dishes

at Ling King Inn, I learned

to dice onions, bone chicken,

fold wonton, roast red pork,

steam rice, boil then stir fry

     ramen, sprout mung

beans, mince shrimp balls,

     buy Hennessy and Lucky

Strikes for James Chan, wipe

     water spots off flatware

by using hot tea, and slice

carrots diagonally for sweet

and sour sauce. After I die,

only my bones will remember.

[sonnet]

Bones

     When I washed dishes

at Ling King Inn, I learned

to dice onions, bone chicken,

fold wonton, roast red pork,

steam rice, boil then stir fry

     ramen, sprout mung

beans, mince shrimp balls,

     buy Hennessy and Lucky

Strikes for James Chan, wipe

     water spots off flatware

by using hot tea, and slice

carrots diagonally for sweet

and sour sauce. After I die,

only my bones will remember.

[first version]