Good morning poets of Shenzhen!whoever you are (we’ve no clue).In Cantonese or Mandarinwe’d send you a giant bonjourfrom New Orleans—such as we areflighty at times, but with stout hearts.We ponder the start of your daythe things you do, would like to dohow it all sorts out (or doesn’t)what the glow of your deeds feels like.Here, we’re bodily in pause mode,sluggish Louisiana mud.The wage floor’s—$7.25folks grind all day, yet barely thrive.We’re even told Russia’s to blameif you can believe that (we don’t).Poets of Shenzhen! What’s shakin?are you hosting readings tonight?at a school? at a library?We’re fond of bars, gardens, sidewalksWe’re a boisterous bunch, but we’re true!we work with the mess given us.We’re often mired in foreign warswe’re coming apart by the hour.Anyway, what’s up with Hong Kong?the scene there, just minutes away.Baton Rouge, our state capitalcan’t be accessed by high-speed railTalk of rails—is 30 years old!Homeless tents populate our streetsStill, though, poets from Baton Rougehappily find their way to us.Which of your poets reads tonight?What’s the latest styles? What’s the vibe?We flaunt (let’s see) maybe 90yeah, 90 styles, 60 poets.Poets of Shenzhen! City sleuthswe’re keen to know your best secretsWe’re keen to be asked to read there!Plane fare, a bed, some translatorsI’m a veggie, requiring beerMy colleague, Henry—is veg tooSean—like a yue ren, eats it allWe might not be the best of fitsStill, we’re a striving bunch, fired upwe work with the mess given us.Poets of Shenzhen! Esteemed peersYou’re most welcome in New OrleansThough we’ve no Bureau of Cultureno way to arrange a banquetStill, these broken links, these intentsare the stuff of our poetics.