IT FLOWED OUT OF ME | Cosmonauts Avenue

I told father and things came flowing out of our red front door

my laundry, my clothes, my shoes, my toothbrush

my piggy bank, with fingers shoved in and out of it,

a candy bar, a bag of rice, fish sauce

a rice paddle, a picture of grandma

on mommy’s side

had mommy’s same exact smile

people often ask: have you ever seen a grown man cry

like it’s a heart-wrenching rarity

but I’ve seen a grown man cry

and can’t help but notice

how tears and sweat and spit become one

IT FLOWED OUT OF ME, first published in Cosmonauts Avenue litmag