A Study (A Soul) Poem by john tiong chunghoo

she stands
in the outskirt
of the city
a hundred years of smile
white as granny's
porcelain cup

over the city
the goddess of mercy watches

the family's saviour
three jossticks
each start of day
and end of day

the goddess of mercy
sits in the family's altar
years and years
of smile
and granny's
unwavering faith
as she counts her blessings
and never her prayers

to the catholic
she says she's her own
virgin mary
'they do look quite alike, dont they'
granny smiles to
grandchild who has turned catholic