3x365: Vietnamese poet at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, c. 1993

He could tell you all about
the woman that lives in that plant.
Sometimes you can hear her
cry when rainwater rolls down
her leaves.

He explains, smiles toothlessly,
spotted hands clasped in a
silent prayer.

And sometimes you can hear
her lover answer from the other
side of the garden. Destined to
remain separate, they whisper
nothings into the rain.