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Four letters from my mama
by Bei Jie Si

                                                               after adam hamze
​i  opened       my  mouth  &
the  ocean  left     us     with
sweat.      subtle      metallic
   sang           to               us.
the    songs     i          carried
the treasures  in  my   eyes–
smeared   eyeliner       from
worry.      open your mouth
you     cannot fail.    you are
my     hungriest              love
eat      the       entire        sea
​a school of    fish swam in.
nothing             but       salt
lives here  now.    chiming
bells  speak      our  names
from my island.      it is all
the dark    reflection      of
sweat.         always for you.
jie si– there will always be
my                 hard      work.
go    to     the    market   &
  never                    starve
​their   scales   heavy    like
an   inherited      taste   for
bells,  like the ones       that
you are        named     after
           i                want
my    bao     bei’s     cheeks.
i know    i  need          never
fish.   i promise         me &
you will always work hard.
eat our  favorite dried fish
       &         remember.

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Bei Jie Si (she/ her/ hers) is a poet and artist in Austin, Texas. She is Co-President of the only poetry organization on UT's campus (Spitshine Poetry) where she leads workshops and organizes open mics. She was a 2017 Write Bloody Contest finalist and has been published or is forthcoming in Button Poetry, Write About Now, Muzzle Magazine, The Dialogoist, Nat. Brut, and elsewhere. She spends her time writing, studying, drawing, singing, watching Steven Universe, and eating.
 

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Summer 2019
ISSN 2157-8079
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