A journal of art + literature engaging with nature, culture, the environment & ecology

Of Crows and Chrysanthemums

Jasmine Gui, Toronto-Singapore

 

vi.  

 

And so, the songs buried 

in the sludge of the city 

bruise black and yellow in your mouth, 

a trampled field of sullen reeds,  

snapping against desperate fingers.  

 

Overhead, while birdcall summons a cloud column,  

on the sidewalk, meticulous yet forgetful,

you wane doleful as a cluster of mums.  

 

 

ix.  

 

A tree flustered by wind showers you with furious 

raindrops from a terrible yellow sky. 

Meanwhile  

 

you yourself are past being stirred.  

The careless steam from a full teacup  

burns your lips a surprised crimson. 

Meanwhile  

 

you yourself are out of care’s reach.  

 

 

xi.  

 

So who will shoot 

the sun burning at the ragged rip 

of your shoulder?

 

The black bird lifting 

a stone at the edge of the water  

looks over at you, saying nothing.  

 

You in return, say nothing.

 

Jasmine Gui is a Singaporean-born interdisciplinary paper artist, arts programmer, writer and researcher based in Tkaronto (Toronto). She is the co-founder of TACLA, an Asian Canadian living archive initiative and runs an interdisciplinary arts studio, Teh People. Her work explores mythologies, landscapes, translations, traversals, and grief, and is grounded in intersectional, interdisciplinary grassroots communities. She is the author of two chapbooks and has been featured in Room Magazine, Held Magazine, SineTheta, GUTS Magazine, The Spectatorial, Panorama Journal, and Softblow amongst others. She also does experimental paper arts as one half of the creative duo, jabs.

In fields

Half Tiger