On Saturday, the world lost one of its kindest souls. Late that night, I received a text from my mom that my grandfather passed away back home in the Philippines. It’s hard to put into words how much my world has shifted. I thought I’d share a bit about what a special man he was here.
Author: Stephwaxpoetic
Allergy Tests & Piece of Mind
I’ve had allergies my entire life. Sneezing, wheezing, itchiness from hell – you name it…but I literally couldn’t. For years, I lived with an underlying sense of dread because I could not tell you precisely the things I was allergic to. That is, until now.
Chamomile Tea, An Essay published in You Might Need to Hear This
I write to process, to grieve, and to heal. I write to build bridges across intergenerational conflicts and cultural differences. Whenever someone tells me they empathize with what I’m saying, I get excited because it’s like “Oh! I have community!” But then I realize “Oh…It’s because of our collected trauma.” For much of my life,…
Lechón, Flash Fiction Published in The Margins
I’m incredibly humbled and excited to share that my first short story, Lechón, was published today in the The Margins, the digital magazine run by the Asian American Writer’s Workshop (AAWW)!
Bayberries (杨梅): An Intriguing Sweet and Sour Fruit
Chinese bayberries are fascinating. Striking the perfect balance between sweet and tart, these berries have long been an inspiration for ancient Chinese poems and legends.
To commemorate bayberry season, I have taken a closer look at this refreshing summertime fruit, including its origins and fun facts, and the hysterical story of the Bayberry Swindler.
Menarche, a Poem Published in Ephemeral Elegies
One of my poems was accepted by Ephemeral Elegies back in February and published yesterday!
Cùn: The Chinese Inch (寸)
Units for measurements around the globe developed from what was easily available, namely body parts. For instance, hands were used to measure the height of horses, human feet for distance, and even the average length a physicist’s beard grows in a second was once used to measure extremely short distances (around 5 nanometers). An inch in the West, is generally based on the length of a thumb.
Yet, China’s inch historically used more than one digit or finger depending on who or what was being measured. Was this ever standardized? Do some people still use multiple fingers to measure things? These questions and more are answered in my newest blog post: Cùn: The Chinese Inch (寸)!
Middle Brother: Recollections in Verse
As the eldest, I’ve tried to protect my younger brothers when we were growing up, but it was hard taking on adult responsibilities when I was just a child myself.
TW: Abuse, Premature Birth, Bullying, Violence
In free verse, I try to put to words reoccurring memories that have been in my dreams lately and a regret that life was not easier for my younger brother.
A Look Back at Brood X 2021
One bright sunny morning, you awaken from a restful night’s sleep to the sounds of cicadas. Their soft, distant whir is a normal prelude to your day, a dependable background noise reminiscent of long, lazy summer days. Still, something about today’s particular buzzing causes you to pause.
The Magic of Bad Chinese Taxidermy
No matter the size of a Chinese city, if it has a museum, chances are high that one is sure to find some funky-looking dead animals there!
Stephwaxpoetic 