Bead
Spring cleaning
My room in Scarborough.
Object: jade bracelet,
rice-like bead linked to rice-like bead linked
to rice-like bead linked to . . .
Mine.
In a shoebox of memories,
In a zippered embroidered pouch,
A gift my mom left for me.
Rice
Dinner discussion.
Aunt’s home in North York.
Object: jade bracelet,
rice-like bead linked to rice-like bead linked
to rice-like bead linked to rice-like bead
Hers.
Like the one my mom owned.
Like the one my second aunt also owns.
Like the one my third aunt also owned.
Four sisters,
Four bracelets.
Made from one necklace,
Part of my grandma’s dowry in the 1930s
Hong Kong.
Jade
Wait!
Midnight.
Mind.
Object: jade bracelet,
A gift my grandma left for me.
Evidence of affluence?
Confusion
“Dire circumstances due to Japanese invasion of Hong Kong”
Escaping the bombings. Running running running. More running.
Haunting memories . . .
80 years flashed before me.
(Marriage.) (Widowhood.) (War.) (Famine.) (Immigration.)
Adorned.