Supermarket Flowers

Time, a deserted land, haunting the blueberry-coloured sky,
Deceptive wind chimes on your balcony couldn't cure a dark cloudy day

Afraid of stars and as
Birds vanished the construction workers also went away.

In those solitary months of 2011 I stood on the sweat-smelling carriage from Paya Lebar to Boon Lay and in the midst of the crowds that smile was mesmerising.

Even that was not as beautiful as you and it was you who made oppressive lights marvellous
And it was you who debunked the pain of cold rain chilling the warmth of held hands making me sleepy once
again under the blueberry moon.

-Liu Qiao


Beautiful poetry sent from a faraway land that summoned familiar warmth from no less than 3 years ago. I miss you, dear friend.