Maw Shein Win

only son trapped in
premonition, whispers

in the ear, a leap from
second floor window

asleep on cement flower bed
rooms emptied of spoons

ankles sprained, warnings in
the head, mother offering

to the nat on the ground floor
honey, rice, roses,

as a child I did not climb trees
instead I gathered leaves that flew to the ground
the trees were tall in the fall
the neighbor boys, cruel,
one left a dead kitten in a box on the doorstep


I made homes among the leaves
safety in green, gold, yellow,
invented a family who lived in a treehouse
green twig, the mother,
broken branch, the father,


two ferns, the missing sisters,

The rental faces another house.
When she arrives, there are wild turkeys in the street.
It begins to rain.


The storage unit in El Cerrito holds pinned moths in cases.
Brass castanets. Tin pants.
A box of cork buttons.