Mama.

It's odd how a body can stay so
perfectly still, at peace and
body filled with embalming fluids
lips plastered together with a pink lipgloss
she would never wear

Donned in your custom made blouse-
made in Chinatown for your 90th birthday,
Ayi Hoon said
you lost too much weight
but went quickly with your last breath on Thursday morning.

"Wah Miang" (my dear)  and "Wei seeer" (Rachel) were my names
my mama lived a fulfilling life and she left pain-free, at least,
that's what they all say
but i have seen cancer rob lives and deteriorate bodies
in both my grandparents and
it never gets easier to watch

Permanent goodbyes are always hard,
and the dead always looks too perfectly made up to leave so quickly
when your hearse went down Ceylon road today
I hope you saw your daughters, your sons, your grandchildren, your caretaker and your church kakis
All while holding gong gongs hand
up in heaven



Dedicated to my Grandmother, Kwok Sui Eng who passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on the 15th of June 2017.