Covenant
A poem by Ping Yi

Covenant

“The train in the drain!” you chuckle
and chant, clap and stomp in the tub,
tasting the words your first time
tasting the rhyme with the spray,
as suds swirl where the green train rests
where the wind-up snorkeller spins.

“The train in the drain / Goes mainly
to Spain,” oh the tales I could spin
journeys to places of the world.
Will words gift you the same delight
as the magic they have brought me?
There is much I would show you.

“The TRAIN in the DRAIN”: we create
a collage of bright inks, foam strips;
you wave the scissors with glee
– should I help, or let you try?
Glitter spirals over the glue
sealing our rainbow covenant.

“The Train in the Drain,” I whisper
as you sleep, memories shunted
to one side. New joys and sorrows
jostle within for your heart
while I watch without, wondering
where our words will take us next.

About the Author:

Ping Yi writes poetry, travelogues and fiction, and is in public service. His work has appeared in Litro USA (Editor’s Pick), London Grip, Dreich, Meniscus, La Piccioletta Barca and trAce, among others. Ping Yi is from Singapore, and has also lived in Boston, and Cambridge, UK.

Poetry Breakfast publishes a new poem every weekday morning.
If you’d like your poems considered for publication visit our Poetry Submissions page.

Follow Poetry Breakfast
Facebook