In a time of destruction, create something.

To shut the door at the end of the workday, which does not spill over into evening. To throw away books after reading them so theydon't have to be dusted. To go through boxes on New Year's Eve and throw out half of what is inside. Sometimes for extravagance to pick a bunch of flowers for the one table. Other women besides me must have this daydream about a carefree life.

When we Chinese girls listened to the adults talk-story, we learned that we failed if we grew up to be but wives or slaves. We could be heroines, swordswomen. Even if she had to rage across all China, a swordswoman got even with anybody who hurt her family. Perhaps women were once so dangerous that they had to have their feet bound.

I learned to make my mind large, as the universe is large, so that there is room for paradoxes.

Hunger also changes the world - when eating can't be a habit, then neither can seeing.

Before we can leave our parents, they stuff our heads like the suitcases which they jam-pack with homemade underwear.

When alone I am not aware of my race or my sex, both in need of social contexts for definition.