Two Poems by Han Raschka

every star goes out

i ask mama
can you imagine 
a world
without me?
she’s cooking dinner
hand on knife
chopping onion
peppers
blade straight and sharp
that’s like asking
if I can imagine 
a world 
without stars
hot stovetop 
cooks thin beef
green chili sauce
i reach
to grab a piece
burned in response
well
can you?

twin beaches

what would
you do if
i was gone?
sand
crushed seaglass
turns to face me
i don’t want this
to be 
our relationship 
i’m reminded 
of my mother 
years earlier 
i don’t want
to be a mother 
to a dead daughter