by Yuan Changming
He was video-chatting with his mom
On his iPad when he heard a loud call
From a handsome frog. Not to disturb
His night owl son still busy dreaming
Against noon light, he locked himself out
In the balcony. Remember to eat an egg
A banana, an apple, some black fungus every day
Small fish better than meat. Shrimps help more
Like those a frog could catch on a summer night
But his mother neither saw nor heard any frog
Which he imagined jumping around in a rice paddy
On the other side of the world. It was the song
Of nostalgia squatting high at the threshold of
His throat, ready to call like an unseen frog
Yuan Changming published monographs on translation before leaving China. With a PhD in English, Yuan lives in Vancouver, where he edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Qing Yuan. Credits include ten Pushcart nominations, Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17), BestNewPoemsOnline and publications in 1509 other journals/anthologies across 43 countries.