Poems for Jiayi

My dear Jiayi,

 I love you so much. So, so much. In ways I could never describe. 

Here I tried!

Tea for Travelers of Catan

Today we learned Rivals of Catan at our go-to café,

Fields and roads closing space between us

Like acrylic paints at fifteen. Between us like

Hot air rushing our bikes, abandoned orange crates,

Stone fruits we pitted, palms nicked, and spit

Sun-high into summer grass. Our earliest memories.

Do you ever wonder if those trees grew?

We just keep building. Abbey. Trade ship.

I trade you sips of peach matcha for coffee milk tea,

Remembering sweet orange Tazo at your table.

Every day, I wrote, was my happiest. And still is.

And when between us becomes one thousand miles,

Hold close this: my hometown is you.

Each building is you, and my car named Friday,

And each familiar road we've flown becomes us.

You are kittens in July, blackout tag last October, 

The February nights we howled at moon and stars.

You are April loafing against the wildflowers,

Holding each other. Everything between us.

It's all I've ever wanted.

This next one I wrote summer before Junior year, when I was in Alaska and missing you a lot. At my loneliest I'd imagine us running away to build a cabin in Colorado. Originally sent to you via text.

Dream of Colorado

On a plot of southwest loam,

Near rivers overflowing stones

I built a cozy forest home, 

And her heart there completes it.

Jiayi and me, an autumn breeze,

Enjoying roiling red-orange leaves

Pumpkin cakes and spicy teas

And mountains shifting scarlet.

Jiayi and me, enduring freeze,

Snowbound to our quilted sheets,

Listening to her softly breathe

As winter bleeds my spirit.

Jiayi and me, and blooming streets,

Attending springtime jubilees

Dancing under light-strung trees,

My soul a newborn deerlet.

Jiayi and me, our summer free,

Acting like we're honeybees

splashing in the crystal streams

and mapping out the forest.

At night I send my dreaming there.

I see the sun light up your hair,

Take your hand and pull you where

My heart can feel yours meet it.