Libretto [New York, 2000]

An empire falls to a smoldering seed.

A voice fades from it. Pastries: little

purses of custard, red bean, a bit of mud.

The rotten city where smoke flowers

from her face, her lungs etched

in perfume. Shop signs: Chinese characters

contained in squares, the moon fixed

into a picture, strange glass she looks

into, angled little bones.