ominescent presences I

thought my mountains my

giants my guardian

angels would remain overlooking me

like heaven above but

I see them clearer when

they shrink

down

down

down 

as I translate Mandarin

into English scathingly

point out signs and

show them the 

"right" way to do things

I learn that I am a parent

to my parents

and I 

don't 

like 

that

 

and suddenly

the rift between us is an invisible chasm that

is hard for someone as tall as I

to cross

 

maybe I too

can shrink

 

I

now 

see reflected

faces of almond shaped

eyes

i

guess 

even a 

canyon of 

tears lets 

ungrateful daughters

cross

and be forgiven