Two years ago, my Popo ("grandmother" in Hakka Chinese) had a stroke and has since been in the hospital in a strange situation.

She’s mostly “sleeping”, will rarely open her eyes, but is no longer outwardly communicative.

She’s still herself, but not herself.

It took me two years, but I finally found the words to express this liminal feeling of being caught between grief and hope, absence and presence.

The first time I read this poem aloud was to her at the hospital. I like to think she could hear me.

The second time I read this poem was in Port Maria to close out the St. Mary Literary Festival. Port Maria was the town she lived in and where I have many precious childhood memories.

With HOMECOMING, I reflect on how everyone and everything in Port Maria grieves her absence, yet their lives must go on. I weaved together visuals and sounds from Port Maria to capture the essence of this special place, contrasting it with the sterility of the hospital bed she now calls home.

This poem is my genesis poetry release on the blockchain. I wanted to mint it in June because that is my grandmother's first name. I hope this poem helps you to heal from the absence.