The Passing Story

The pond, the light wave
in the water I sit beside
my heart becomes the rhythm

On the porch, thinking of you
the empty air
diminishes the distance

The red candle, igniting
the flame of my body
warms my tears

The passing story blurs
the vast night’s
longing

Xiaoly Li is a poet, photographer, and former computer engineer who lives in Massachusetts. Her poetry is forthcoming in J Journal and Up the River and appeared in Off the Coast and Gravel. She currently studies poetry with Barbara Helfgott Hyett.