Lucy Tan's 108 Fragments

21

In Europe we pour wine

with the right hand;

the left is for

serving those condemned to die.

So declares

the confident

white maiden

to her yellow man.

To which her insecure

yellow man replies:

You are in Asia

just remember that

and do as Asians do.

Western-educated,

he doesn't really know

what Asians do

but he wants to put

the white woman

in her place

and drum into her

that West is no longer

best

unless as a trophy

to accompany

the newly-fashionable

Eastern dress.