Dorothy Chan’s Editor’s Note: A Triple Sonnet for Valentine’s Day
A Triple Sonnet For Valentine’s Day
The only correct answer is “Honey,”
I say when asked about my favorite
term of endearment, like it’s a contract
bound for life—but no way in hell
it’s Baby or Hottie or Sweetie (Sorry
Flavor of Love girls we love you)
when the Hive exists red hot and ready
this Valentine’s Day. Honey. And do
you remember the Cheetos commercial
when Chester is on a game show and
answers “X’s & O’s” for Hugs and Kisses?
I never knew which was “X” and which
was “O,” because this isn’t math class—
all I care about in life is chemistry
or that X factor, also known as lightning
in a bottle or the “f” in what’s ineffable
about poetry, according to Lyrae or
how the Powerpuff Girls were born.
XOXO GG. Or GG, the episode of
Gossip Girl when Blair gets married
to Prince Louis. Or Gigi, the 1958
MGM musical when Leslie Caron’s
Gigi eats quail and falls in love with
Louis Jordan’s Gaston. I think about sushi
love boats and those two weeks when
everyone kept saying, “I’m on a boat,”
or how every time I experience heart
break, Rita and I are looking out into
bodies of water. I dream of love boats
and uni nigiri and the Godiva Gold
Collection wrapped with a red bow
with extra cherry cordials, and endless
matcha and ube and red bean and sesame
flavored desserts. Or you’re yummy.
Or food and sex make the world go
round and round. XOXO, The Hive.
XOXO, Issue 5. XOXO, did you ever
notice on sitcoms everyone has five
friends in life? Seriously, what’s with
that? XOXO, thank you dear readers.
XOXO, I love a poem that’s two forms
in one: Triple Sonnet and epistle—cheers.
Photo credit: Joshua David Watson
About Dorothy Chan
Dorothy Chan is the author of five poetry collections, including the forthcoming, Return of the Chinese Femme (Deep Vellum Books Fall 2023 / Spring 2024). They are an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Honey Literary Inc, 501(c)(3) BIPOC literary arts organization, run by women, femme, and queer editors of color.