Farewell, romantic
sacrifice:
I choose myself.
Some can only
love once.
How true
will it be? I love
sequins, but get
the sequence
confused.
At our end, I broke
from her
& every face grew
stranger. Stranger,
speak to me
like light
through a veil.
Like a spent match
the darlings
turn to find me
& I fade
into the glitter.
A sequoia has
every vowel.
Every vow
like a closed hand.
When I’ve worn
my body down
from dancing, I still
point to the sky.
I will honor
my body, my only.
My only body,
its honor, my will.
Shelley Wong is the author of As She Appears (YesYes Books), winner of the Pamet River Prize and longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award. She lives in San Francisco.
“Refrain” is reprinted from As She Appears (YesYes Books, 2022). The author grants permission.
Shelley Wong’s latest book is As She Appears (YesYes Books, 2022). Visit with her and her work at the Miami Book Fair 2022. Cover art by: Alban Fischer.
Welcome to SWWIM Every Day’s preview coverage of Miami Book Fair (MBF) 2021! The poets whose work you’ll be reading every weekday from October 25 through November 12 are just a few of the many authors from around the world participating in this year’s MBF, the nation’s largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. They all look forward to sharing their work, thoughts, and ideas both in person and online. Between November 14 and November 21, new poet conversations and readings will be launched and available for free on miamibookfaironline.com (in addition to other content). For more information, visit the website and follow MBF on Instagram and Twitter at @miamibookfair and use the hashtag #miamibookfair2021.