joelle

the day your fingers graced mine amidst tins of chai

i looked at you and i knew

forever stained by your batik blue

fingers like itchy textiles woven together

through time you showed me how to make rainbow kueh lapis

the same way your grandmother used to

between the food dye and boiling pandan water

and accidental burns from the steamer i knew

i followed my heart and it led me to you