Poems & Short Stories

Crickets in the calm.

A gust of wind gently making its way down the Bayou.

I hear your echoes, your laughter, your southern purr.

I hope you’re doing well.

I hope you found what you were looking for.

I’m still here but stronger.

My lust for life never listless.

Crickets in the calm.

Down by the Bayou.

The recent incidents regarding hate crimes against Asian Americans must cease. Undoubtedly this is a primal reaction from false propaganda. As a first born American citizen and a son of a US Army veteran, I consider myself American. I have traveled and lived in Asia, in times to further grasp my identity yet I find myself most comfortable in the States. Asian Americans comprise 6% of the populace, of which we have virtual zero representation within media, entertainment, and sports. In essence, we are considered an invisible people. It doesn’t help our cause that our upbringing within an Asian household is seeped in Confucian ideology encouraging filial piety and group think.

However, I propose to you that this new generation; namely mine, is part of a new canon of a different ilk. We are the hybrids. We are educated and further more, we are defiant. Our parents are of the age where they are feeble and tender. When I witness these careless and crass exhibitions of violence, it saddens and enrages me. Far too often, we have been silenced and have been celebrated for our “silence,” I say no more.

Please join me and others who look like me in solidarity to defend human rights and human decency. Empathy needs a calling like no other. America has such a sore definition as of late, let’s not add more salt to the wound.

Oh and if you haven’t gotten the memo, if you’re looking to define American greatness and you’re looking to distinguish oneself as a proud American, you’re looking at it. We the 2.0, we the update, we are the living experiment of this democracy. We are America.

A vibe.

A live recording session.

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Poems recited by Rickey Kim

Saxophone play by Jordan Vanhemert

Moderated by Jess Mori

A Feeling.

WEATHER MAN

Winds coming from the North

A storm is a brew

Clouds gather in union

Darkness ensues

Day of Reckoning cometh

Four Horsemen at the Tides

Take Heed

Cast Pride

Open Nets

Cast Wide

Bring others with you

Fight the Fine fight

‘cause ain’t no tellin’

When all we can do…is stay alive.

SYSTEM OF THINGS by RYK

What is a dream?

What is a nightmare?

Why are we divided?

Why are we here?

At present, the world is changing.

Revealing who we really are.

Lonesome figures in space.

Lost at sea.

Searching for the gods.

Searching for an answer.

It is darkest before the dawn.

Yet the dawn isn’t coming soon enough.

This is a dream.

This is a nightmare.

Holdfast and awake.

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Poem by RYK

Music by @MRD

Will they remember us?

Will they remember that we were good and decent?

Will they remember we created things? Beautiful things?

Will they read our books and sing our songs? Will they know we laughed, that we loved?

Will they?

Will they know we fought and killed?

That at times we were helpless and hapless?

Will they know we cried?

Will they know we prayed?

Will they know we gave a damn?

That we sought peace but we just couldn’t figure it out.

Will they?

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Poem by RYK

Music by @blackboygenie

Into the Darkness

Into the Hole

Off the grid

Off we go

I am my hero

I am my foe

Fight or Flight

One way to go

Into the Darkness

Into the Hole

May God Save us all

For God only knows.