Sample Poems by Cindy Rinne

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Scribbles


Mai Ly shivered as her thin,
strong fingers untied bamboo string
in her lap, coiled crosswise.
Dragon leaves crackled
as she unwrapped a tea-stained

note folded into eighths. The paper
snapped when Mai Ly opened
the letter. The Jade Emperor in heaven
scribed a diagram in ancient

Vietnamese. Her five-year-old brother,
Phong, had drawn a small spirit-
boat to carry

him to the afterlife.

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Artifacts


Dear Mai Ly,

You have the three periods of Tet, the time of the New Year, to find six artifacts that form the Phoenix.
Otherwise, Phong is doomed to eternal wandering.

In the morning, find a shallow, wooden spirit-boat on the Perfume River. It is curled at the ends with hand-painted blocks of color. The diagram with a list of artifacts rests inside and special ao dai garments for you to wear each period - green for earth, blue for sky, and black with stars for night. You need to bring incense, tangerines, sticky rice cakes, peach blossoms, lanterns, and ghost money. These offerings are available to exchange for ancestors' help and protection.

It is difficult to understand the death of one so young. Phong revealed to me his wish for a spirit-boat to sail on wings of the Phoenix. You are ox: caring, intelligent, and stubborn. You have the wisdom of the sacred past in your dark eyes. Please make preparations for his journey to the other realm.


Thank you,
Pure August Jade Emperor

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Split

Each split leaving two of their three souls behind. Phong (his one soul above their house)

said to Mai Ly (hers stepping into the spirit-boat),

I am compelled to clutch the earth in the vaults of night as a haunting spirit when my three souls and seven vital spirits flee from my body in death.

Unless,

you cling to the task of finding artifacts during the three periods of Tet. Mai Ly, begin your task to sustain my travel straight to the sky.

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Mother and Father


thanked Mai Ly and Phong
for gifts of rice square
cakes. Phong handed them
a card he drew
in school.
Lanterns and a small boat
in red marker with gold
lettering completed
the design.
Why a boat?
asked Father. I am made
of water, said Phong.