Bryan Thao Worra Poems

It took me by surprise that Hitler was a vegetarian.
Rudolf Hess, too.
I remember reading about them as a boy.
I remember the outrage when someone asked us to forgive them
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Will I ever see poppies
In their natural habitat?
How red they appear in
All of these pictures beside
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Since the 6th century B.C.,
The Buddha has said
The right perspective,
The right motive,
...

Sometimes, I want to tell you.
Laying by your side, it‟s a mystery to explain
Why I gave up my poetry for so long.
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Goes in hot. Comes out hot.
But this may be more than the casual student
Will want to know.
...

I came to Missoula to ask him
About the inner workings of ua neeb.
To understand the symbolic significance of split horns
And spirit horses who trace their noble smoky path
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A single seed can turn into a forest.
A single heart can transform a nation.
To be brave is jai ka.
To be generous is jai kwan.
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Luck.
The spirits enjoy suggesting not everything is written down
Ahead of time.
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We think them plentiful, like jumping shrimp and tiny crabs:
These mak hung, these chilies, the base for padaek.
The mouth waters with even a mention.
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When I go to sleep there is a distant city for a nation,
And in that city a street at night, fragrant as a frangipani.
On that street there is a house, there is a room, there is a pillow,
Soft and welcoming like a strong woman‟s smile
...