He lies, arms akimbo
Face deep in slumber
A waft of wind, unlike in the snow
blows around the little toddler.
His mother carries
a bag of wisdom
bound in color
dressed like black berries
For she has not seen
her husband
in Yangzhou
for half a decade, since.
The books pile up
as she walks in
she reads to him aloud
so that a good school
may take him in.
