littlecloudflower

It wasn't until five years later, when the carp flags were again flying high all over the city, that Hikaru decided it was time to tell his long-time rival the truth. "Shindou." Akira caught Hikaru on the rooftop of the Go Institute, leaning against a side railing with his back turned towards the door, looking out into the city's rooftops. The roof was fenceless with shallow railing, and was usually locked—Akira had no idea how Hikaru got access, but it didn't surprise him that somehow Hikaru found a way. "Hey, Touya." Hikaru turned around, and acknowledged his rival with a friendly wave. "How did your match with Kurata-san go?" "It

Dear Yuri, You’re right. I do want to go back to ice-skating. I was uninspired before, but you and Yurio have surprised me. When I saw Yurio break my world record in the short program, I did feel like I want to defend it. I felt that I am proud to have choreographed his program, but I am not done yet. Victor Nikiforov isn’t dead. I am still a competitive figure skater, and that part of me is still there. But when you told me you’re retiring, I got mad. How can you tell me to go back to the ice and say you’re retiring! If you retire, it would be as if all the time I invested in you, all the emotions I’ve put int

In first grade, my teacher told me the best way to get rich was to write down all the words I’ve never seen before on pieces of scratch paper and put them into a piggy bank Since then, I’ve been a collector of words— Chinese characters on the dusty Beijing street signs English letters highlighted in children’s books on the thick, soft carpet of the ESL classroom French conjugations scribbled on an assignment completed five minutes before the start of 5th period Japanese words discovered in the Digimon character songs and sung offkey in karaoke rooms And the occasional “schadenfreude” and “hasta

The polish is gold On my first trophy From a 7-year-old chess tournament It sits on a shelf, a queen Glaring down the right side of your bed The second one, silver, An ice-skating competition Freely-falling on thin ice I twirled with you within me A senseless, beautiful dance You grew mad at the third And threw my face against the copper ground I had conquered her Yet you conquered me “P=F/A”, you said, As you pounded my knuckles against the door The verdict: this cage is not mine, Because I am a fish, and not a bird, So I asked for some water and drank All eight gallons of it at once If you wanted a trophy You didn’t

i. In which I don't sleep (I watch) Beneath thick eyebrows Midnight eyes smile; flutter shut Dandelion wings ii. In which I'm not cliche (just happy) I kissed you. No stars. No words. Just warm. (Like a blanket.) iii. In which a word is redefined (which word?) At sunrise, he told me, "Anger is a form of love" As tears burnt my cheeks.

Deep breath, and dive Into your blue jacket I swim, like an underwater cave explorer Discovering Your breath on my back (oxygen)

What is it about you that is so elusive? Because heaven knows that you burn it up every day A cool, red bloodbath above the horizon And like mercy (or like god, whom I do not know if I believe in (but I believe)) You give away to the night, let darkness take the reins for a while And drive away to tomorrow's conquests and defeats The sunflowers are your loyal followers, and I cannot help but gaze Upon the radiance reflected in the startling burst of yellow buds As if overwhelmed with happiness from a distant memory You're always there in the photosynthesis of the leaves The soft green buds of spring who are courageous against you Facing you

That summer day when I left you, I forgot to say that You have given me the greatest treasure One that made drowning--the images floating in my lungs, gargling saltwater, silence filling the deep blue--worth it The electricity between our fingers, remember? Electrons moved, but came--finally--to rest, Untouched, and, Forgiven Perchance, what makes the flowers bloom Is not the bees' dance but the sun's kisses And the water, watching softly The thirsty blossoms Time is patient, and so are you. It is spring again.

Your footsteps come with the spring The melting brooks over pavement, The dancing leaves My heart listens, softly; it does not linger. Perhaps, the wind whispers, after you, "Thank you for passing."

Will you meet me by the moonlight In the embrace of midnight And everything I ever knew Is lost to you? Will you meet me by the lamppost Where brilliant the snow glows And sing me a lullaby So I know I'm home? Will you meet me in the darkness And sing me a song And hold me against the cold? Will you twirl me in the sky And spin me in the stars So I know I love you so?