Poetics Presents

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Poetics Presents

Sarah Sloat

Sarah Sloat grew up in New Jersey in a family focused on reading and writing. She began writing poetry seriously last year after joining WVU. Widely travelled, Sarah lives in Germany, where she works as an assignment editor for a news agency. She lives in Frankfurt with her husband and two children.

Asian Song

After the breakup,
my mother handed down her china -
Asian Song.

As in childhood,
given a full plate of food,
I wasn't allowed to say no.

Round white dishes edged in gold,
mauve blossoms inclining inwards,
floral spray on vine-like stems.

I left it packed away for weeks,
the word 'Fragile' clearly marked
in black block letters.
Then piece by piece it unfolded,
the familiar song of countless meals:
the echo of my father's laugh,
the scent of mother's cooking,
children running 'round the table,
heads bowed, hands held,
year in, year out.

A complete set delivered whole:
12 plates, 12 bowls,
12 cups with saucers,
platter, pitcher, sugar bowl,
tea pot and gravy boat.

Asian Song -
how many years
did the pattern sing
our family's sustenance.

Distant song -
how many years of washing up
I never noticed
the scissoring leaves
near the frail and twisted stems.

Copyright Š2003 by Sarah Sloat