I'M GOING TO KEEP LEARNING MANDARIN

a short poem about breakups

I'M GOING TO KEEP LEARNING MANDARIN

- because
I am too accustomed
to dropping my life like
it’s burned me.

The bottle of red left unopened
on the cutting board. The train of
thought I forgot to circle back to.
Handwritten lists and business cards; crisp,
untouched menus and canceled
bus routes. Orange juice and
salt-water. Turn this plane
around.

Six months ago,
I was willing to abandon
one point two billion speakers
for the sake of one.

But I like the name Lucy for a golden retriever.
I’m going to move to Chicago, if I want to. Someday.

I still want to know how to sound out sentences such as
May I have some tea?
How is the weather today?
Good morning, my love

but, to say it,
to walk no further than myself.