when I told my mother
that the ending of her latest hong kong
hit drama was cliche
she told me
“you don’t understand human sentiments
because you don’t watch enough television”

well, mother
you see the world through TV frames
and static lenses
you discuss the world through gossip magazines
and you read people like show reviews

the reason I don’t watch television
is because I always feel so very affected
by whatever happens to the characters
of your myriad translated dramas

perhaps the problem is not because I don’t understand
but perhaps I understand it just too much
so much that it hurts inside