Because I Cannot Sleep In Viet Nam by Michael H. Brownstein

Image - layoutsparks.com

When the morning sky flowers white petals over Ha Noi,

the dark rind of the mank cou fruit breaks it's skin open

and reveals everything red and beautiful like the way you smell

fresh from sleep, gorgeous and enough, the taste of sugar—

and when the sun spreads it's halo of pollen

and the I bite into the white fruit inside—

the exact color of morning in Ha Noi--I know

why I cannot sleep. An ocean, forests, mountains

between us, your life winding down as the sun sets 

and my life winding up as I watch it rise--

but we cannot watch it together—

you are not here with me, I not with you,

and the tasty fruit of mank cou in my hand alone. 

I need your hand to feel it too, I need you to share 

with me its taste, I need for you to inhale its breath,

I need to love you that much more.

Then I will sleep.