My Chinese roommate for two months on Pennywell Rd., St. John’s, Newfoundland,
1994, part one: The Cultural Revolution: Ha ha! So funny!

I thought he had bad manners, and besides,
  I was envious of his mouth: two slugs
Pressed softly, coupling softly, softly pried.
  His quick tongue danced among strong teeth that dug
into the salted rinds of flesh; he said,
  “Ha ha! So funny!” Not a shred was spilled.
I watched the scenes of carnage in his head,
  watched people and boiled cabbage mashed and killed
with great efficiency. Slugs, hot from guns,
  dug into rinds of bursted flesh, embarked
bright red from backs. He slapped his knee: “So funny!
  Ha!” His knee was coarse, and thick as bark.
    I think of what was in his mouth, sometimes,
    and wonder if he swallowed all the punchlines.

© Mike Fralic