call and response (the void)
call
Some say I had it coming. They would know.
At Lotus Pier the ever-rising star—
At Cloud Recesses speaking up to spar—
I wasn’t proud. I wasn’t vain. The low
Disdain the high, and in the medio-
cre beats a fear of excellence—the bar
They’ll never reach—exhibited. Such are
The burdens of my genius: my woe.
It cost me you. To tell a star to hide
Its light is violence: what could I do
But be myself and shine? outshine you? Chide
Me for pride. Side with those who hate me. Rue
The day your father found me. Let me bide
A wide while, here with you, my love. You knew.
response
I loved you like the dark side of the moon.
A den of snakes will writhe to see the day.
Do you remember? It was never noon.
I loved you for your beauty, of jade hewn.
The Lans had nothing on you, pretty Wei.
I loved you like the dark side of the moon.
I loved you for your mind. Its victims strewn,
Your cleverness yet never made me prey.
If you remember, it was never noon.
I loved you for our history. Spoon to spoon
We dueled while A-Jie laughed to see us play.
I loved you like the dark side of the moon.
I loved you for your love. “Love,” you would croon,
“My pretty purple love, my angry gra—”
But you remember. It was never noon.
I loved you for you. I hear your flute’s tune
And tremble not for fear or rage but—say
It—Say you saw the dark side of the moon.
Say you remember. —No. You never knew.