Written by Alma Mark-Fong
Edited by Emerald Liu
I am given this body once only
And this earth is given once only
What a pity
That man would lay claim to them
God, how I wish the world was empty
And I were free
To climb trees and eat their ripened fruit
Sticky, syrupy juice flowing down my chin
How I wish we could live
As God intended
Slowly and sweetly
Like trickling honey in Summer heat
When I lie amongst grass and weeds
The soil is clean and warm
I feel the wetness of dew on the skin of my naked back And I want to breathe, breathe, breathe
When I go to the lake to swim
The water is gentle and cool
I’ll dry off on the shore
Sand sticking to my quickly drying body
Droplets trickling down my brow
And I think to myself
That God made me beautifully and wonderfully For breathing and living and loving
I want to live, live, live
Instagram: @qngelie
Asians in the Arts 