Time reveals secrets, slowly, softly,
About my father

When I was young,
I believed:
Dad did not dislike any food
He ate whatever was left
Handled the scraps in the fridge without a word
Because my mother would not touch the skin or fat
Because I refused dry rice
Because my sister avoided green onions.

But as I grew older,
I realized:
Dad was eating leftovers
Setting aside his own tastes
So that his wife and children could savor the best
Years passed, and along with them,
High cholesterol, high blood pressure,
From the weight of all those small, unspoken sacrifices.

Only recently,
I discovered:
He does not like dishes seasoned with five-spice
That is all I knew.

Now,
I wonder:
How many more secrets lie
Hidden in the quiet corners of his life
That time has yet to reveal?

• Initial: October 19, 2024