i called you, cai png auntie, at a stall that has no name
to pick my usual: kangkong, mapo tofu, without eggs

     yet you picked kangkong, mapo tofu, with eggs: my actual
     unspoken secret, & poured more curry for me since
 
i spoke 'cà-ri' to you, pouring out the secret
you wanted us to mask, to leave our accent behind
 
     as you hid the accent behind your mask, i
     asked if you'd be home for tết. you said 'no. here.'
 
i didn't ask if you felt at home here. (would you say 'no'?)
your eyes looked out, giving away your emotion
 
     so you looked away. your eyes without emotions.
     i took out four dollars, the discounted price you've reached:
 
thus it took me four dollars, undiscounted, to reach you
& call you cai png auntie. because you have no name.