by Alison Wong

a bowl of plain steamed rice
a piece of bitter dark chocolate
a slice of crisp peeled pear

a mother or father who understands
the kitchen is the centre of the universe

children who sail out on long elliptical orbits
and always come back, sometimes like comets, sometimes like moons

(From Cup)

Editors' note: Read "A Cup of Fine Tea: Alison Wong's "There's Always Things to Come Back to the Kitchen for"" here. Also, you can read a review of Alison Wong's As the Earth Turns Silver by Viona Au Yeung here.