for my mother
This one moment I loved: you
in the air, permed hair flying
wild in the rain, around and through
and not a thought of us dying
in the air, permed hair flying
against the storm, lashing hot rain
and not a thought of us dying,
strapped in the plastic car, chained
against the storm lashing hot rain
on our faces as we’re hurled up,
strapped in the plastic car, chain
clouds glowing, whirling—the gust
on our faces as we’re hurled up,
launched into the electric
clouds glowing whirling, the gust
as you laughed and laughed. It’s
launched into the electric,
wild in the rain, around and through
as you laughed and laughed—it’s
this one moment I loved you.
Copyright © 2026 by Wo Chan. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on July 17, 2026, by the Academy of American Poets.
