Daiki: (gazing at the image, then half in jest) What is it with Asian women?
An-Yi: (dispassionately) Are you trying to ask a meaningful question?
Daiki: I mean, ahh – gee. Why are Asian women so attractive?
An-Yi: (sighing) D'ya really want to have this sort of conversation?
Chariya: (shaking his head) Nah – let's steer clear of it . . .
Shanghai Baby - an art work by T Newfields
Let us pretend
that we love each other
& imagine
human beings actually care

Let us fantasize
the world is beautiful
& conjecture about
the value of your hair.

With enough creative imagination
almost any love pattern is possible
& when the broad wings of fantasy
encounter powerful jetstreams of desire
normal restraints become untethered
as the Jade Emperor meets the celestial princess
in a court in Jin'an near Shanxi Rd.
& ordinary stones appear as gold.

Bhäraté: (reflecting on the previous conversation) Why do so many conversations go like that?
Chariya: (shrugging his shoulders) . . . Huh? Like what? (pausing) Oh, like that! Well, the best way to be happy is to seek happiness within and stop stopping worrying about external conversations. Conversations many appear to have social value, but they have absolutely no inherent existential worth.