melancholic drips of
sweat
mingle with sea tears of
joy
salt, sweet, spice, sour
a bowl of pho
a slice of lime
and the healing heat
of too-mild chilies
cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, cloves
bitter
sweet
aromatic
numbness
crunchy oiliness of banh xeo
wrapped in the nosy spice
of mustard leaves
pungent with the aniseed of
holy basil
contrasts
no spice without sweet
no salt without sour
home is where the contrasts
burn holes in my heart
the better to allow fateful winds
to blow me apart
with ecstasy, doldrums and easy pleasure
So long Sà i Gòn.
