self portrait in vivo
grass
spills
into sunlight
the innermost
tongue
of an orchid
splays in
wild
repose
water
opens to light
what to reflect
what to let pass
if you don’t
see
this rainbow
come around
look
from
the angle
of my eyes
if
you
approach
me
like sunlight
I could be
a grain of sand
lucid
as glass
if you
brusque your way
from a sharp angle
you might
find
no
entry
leaves
of the mimosa
fold
upon
touch
hold your palm
above
mine
there can be warmth
you are radiant
without touch I say
I harvest
what I can
show me
the warmth
in you
beyond
my
touch
if
you force
split
me
begets
open
fissive
force
stop
before
you begin
this kindling
body needs no fuse
to light itself
from within
Bonnie Wai-Lee Kwong is a poet and playwright who creates in many mediums and languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, ruby, and javascript. She wrote the poem “self portrait in vivo” after visits to the nanophotonics research group of Jennifer Dionne at Stanford University. Her play Liriope is to be staged at Stanford University as a culmination of her artist’s residency. Her first poetry collection, ravel, was a finalist for the Many Voices Project (New Rivers Press) and the White Pine Press Poetry Prize. Her poetry and fiction have garnered a number of Pushcart nominations.
