tuck in, tuck out
the irregular edges bother me
the filling slowly peaking out
of the corners i have yet to mend
flour coats apoh’s veranda floors
as she tends to aunt jenny’s calls

tuck in, tuck out
she’s left me all alone
with the dozens of wrappers
still staring back at me

tuck in, tuck out
i look away and she’s back again
she takes the dumpling from my hands
fixing the bits and pieces i have seemed to miss
she laughs and picks up my other one

tuck in, tuck out
the lines by her eyes are deeper now
her reading glasses are slowly sliding down
she folds down the left corner for me

tuck in, tuck out
and suddenly i’m 6 years old again
at the soy sauce stained dining table
eating the last dumpling left on the plate