Poetry

FALL 2021

Winter Coleus

by XIAOLY LI

— at the 10-day Retreat

one branch cut from established life
    no phone, no talk, no meat
small bubbles surround the wounded stems in a vase
    watch my breath, in and out, cool and warm
a few leaves wither and dry
    nodes emerge from petiole in water
leaves start standing
    I scan my sleepless body
tiny white sprouts
    layers upon layers peeling
lacy coleus unfurls
    anecdotes in a dream of grudges
bubbles dissipate
    can’t stop my tears
new roots shoot in all directions
    lightning in empty spaces

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Xiaoly Li

Xiaoly Li is a poet, photographer, and computer engineer who lives in Massachusetts. Her poetry is forthcoming or has recently appeared in Spillway, American Journal of Poetry, PANK, Atlanta Review, Chautauqua, Rhino, Cold Mountain Review, J Journal, and elsewhere, including in several anthologies. She has been nominated for Best of the Net twice, Best New Poets, and a Pushcart Prize. Xiaoly received her PhD in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and master’s in computer science and engineering from Tsinghua University in China.