bitter melon

each spring
i
watch the
yellow flowers
droop their
small faces
over the trellis
to drink in my father’s
stories

and
each summer
i
taste my own
bitterness for
not knowing
what the
bitter melons do

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T. Le was born in Vietnam. She is an artist, currently working on her first poetry collection. Her poetry can be found in Project Yellow Dress, Depth Cues, Vietnamese Boat People, and others. Her recent poetry is in the anthology Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings. She lives and works in Central Massachusetts. She has a penchant for drinking lukewarm coffee. Find her on Instagram @just.tle.