Four Treasures of the Sky

by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

In calligraphy, as in life, we do not retouch strokes, Master Wang often said. We must accept that what is done is done.

Her burden was being a girl. And if there is such a burden, then none of us are free from it, not even me.

Nelson tells me that there is no better place in the world for summer than Idaho, and when the flowers begin to bloom, dappling the paths that lead to the hills that lead to the mountains, like paint from a wayward brush, I believe him.

I have felt many things, given them many names. This one I do not want to name. It is as if someone has tied a large stone to my heart, tied it so tight that the veins are full and swelling, and dropped the stone in the deepest part of the ocean.

We already know this is what America is like. This is why we must go home.

My mother was gentle. Your intentions were good, she said, but your actions betrayed you. From now on, Daiyu, you must learn that the two cannot ever be separate. No matter what your intentions may be, you also must think of your actions and act from a place of truth. Relying on just one does not make you a good person. Do you understand?

Here is a man who is simply trying to do the best he can. We are all just trying to do the best we can.

Who will I be now that I can be anything?