Jin Yin Hua

by Emerald Liu (she/her)

A cup between hands
turns into an inverted dome of
comfort composed of my grandmother’s compassion
I taste the flavours that touched her palate

Honeysuckle herbal tea

Swallow the heritage flavours passed down from
generation to generation
Contain them within my stomach
to feel the warmth of connection within
countering distance and temporality

My father collects the golden and silver petals
to relieve internal heat

The surface tension which holds together liquidised words
activates the pressure points along my body

I learn to feel and breathe these lessons
on how to soothe and suture a memory
fresh and fragrant
as honeysuckle
reaching its peak at dim hours.