Dear by Ace Chu
Dear
Ace ChuTwo horses
lean in the field
clasped against each other as if in prayer,
grooming each other’s manes the way
my thumb strokes the back of my thumb.Together, tall, conductive
around them, fenced lightning,
above, a promise of more rain to come,
the force of faith condensing, cumulative—A wave tries to return to the river what it has been given, futile.
Two swans, only ever as far apart as palms, a wingspan,
float by shore, sucking up silt, throats rippling,
taking in something as vast as the sea in small sips.If, on cold nights,
before bed,
I pray for something as simple as the warmth of my hands—
KEEP READING
SHARED WITH GRATITUDE
This poem appeared in The Hopper, Spring 2026.
ABOUT ACE CHU
Ace is a writer from Singapore. His work can be found in places like Bone Parade and Tiger Moth Review, among others. He is most definitely an animal person. There’s really only one animal that makes his skin crawl, and it’s the Creatonotos Gangis, specifically when they unfurl their tentacular appendages. It’s tough for him to think about. He is trying to overcome this discomfort, upon which he will become truly unstoppable. (Source)
ENDNOTES
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