vii. September 2, or The First One

To resist, with tears
I burned and salted my cheeks
against the Fall moon

viii. October 4, or Pacific Rim

Most nights, she drifted;
thus a decade's tidal paths,
like Odysseus.

ix. November

The pumpkin face rots,
its battery candle fresh,
in the cold dumpster.

x. December 25

I left His birthday;
a day is too heavy for
a sixteen-hour flight.

xi. January 1

I got an extra
day when I returned. It was
empty, time missing.

xii. February 7, or Coincidentally Symbolic

Chinese New Year in
nineteen-ninety-seven was
on Di-di's birthday.