Durian Season

At the edge of a quiet season,
 a sharp aroma fills the air — 
 like an old message
 knocking on memory’s door.

Durian falls one by one
 through the whisper of the western wind,
 its cracked shell revealing
 the warm gold hidden within.

People gather
 with laughter and a trace of longing,
 seeking the sweet-bitter taste
 known only to this fleeting time.

Beneath the shade of the old tree,
 time thickens softly;
 we sit and share the flavor,
 letting the night chew on our stories.

And when the season ends,
 the scent still lingers on the road home — 
 a small reminder of those days
 we never quite finish telling.