Artist Flo Oy Wong shares four poems, written in collaboration with her family – the Kong siblings Jamie, Dana, Darryl and Kelsey on the occasion of their father Dave’s 75th birthday.
These special poems penned by Flo Oy Wong give voice to a treasure trove of family memories held by Dave Kong’s children.
This collective family effort presents a delightful portrait of their father, who turned 75 in December.
Some time ago, Jamie Kong, my husband Ed’s late brother’s granddaughter, asked me to write a poem for her father Dave’s 75th birthday. I am fond of Dave, but I didn’t think that I could write a poem true to him. So, I suggested asking the Kong sibs, Jamie, Dana, Darryl, and Kelsey, to tell me about their dad. I asked them to tell of something he did with them solo, one-on-one.
Their responses came quickly. I read them in search of something unique. Discovering that food or food events were in their four exciting tales of being alone with Dad I decided to use that theme. Two of their stories (Jamie and Darryl) did not include Gayle, their mom. Two included her. I decided to follow their tales, 2 without Mom, 2 with her.
Working in a first, then second then third drafts, the stories tightened and enriched their poems of their loving Dad. We went through two or three edits before I heard the words and rhythm I wanted. The poems became richer and richer. While I wrote the poems I became aware that it was their stories that supported my writing. I wanted to give them the credit they deserved. Their critiques were right on.
That’s how these four poems came alive. By loving. By editing. They read them at Dave King’s surprise 75th birthday party on December 6th – my pleasure and privilege to share family-themed poetry with these delightful members of Ed’s extended family and more.
I was totally focused on dancing with words in a family context. In other words, a spirit lifting literary experience.
FLO OY WONG
December 6, 2025
🎁 Jamie brings us along for the ride as she honors her dad with a poem.
passengers in our car
sated
from our RJ
barbecue
Dad and& I bring
home leftovers
in crinkled wavy
tinfoil sculptures
of
a shiny swan
a shiny rabbit
passengers
in our car
The next day
with calm and patience
Dad unwraps
our silvery passengers
the chiseled swan
the chiseled rabbit
Dad layers leftovers
on our plates
we munch yesterday’s lunch
passengers in our car
we finish our mid-day meal
my heart balloons
to watch Dad’s soothing
fingers and steady hands
at work
following the bent tinfoil creases
he re-sculpts the enchanting
three-dimensional
RJ swan and bunny rabbit
passengers in our care
Flo Oy Wong
Jamie Chau
November 8 2025
November 9 2025
November 10 2025
🎁 Dana shared, “Today we had my dad’s birthday during which we read the poems out loud. I appreciate poetry all the more, being able to express and honor in a very unique way.”
“DAD eats with us”
the doorbell rings
it’s our friends
four of them
guy friends
with big smiles
they enter
the living room
where mom
and DAD wait
Josh waits too
In a festive
party mode
DAD empties
a large bag
of crackly popcorn
he lays serving tongs
on the table
and with a marker
he writes dee i ar tee wy
pee el ay tee ee es
on a garbage box
then he brings
our fizzy drinks
ice bucket with tongs
in the kitchen Josh cooks
platters of dinner
enough for mom & DAD too
savory flavors float
mom & DAD hover
nearby
just in case Josh
needs help
mom & Dad
come eat with us
I say
it’s ok . . . she responds quickly
i’ll eat upstairs
her soft footsteps
lifting upward towards
rhythm of the evening
DAD fills his plate
steady in his hands
sated with Josh’s
delicious food
smeared napkins
the evidence
our gathering evolves
questions comments
buzz round the table
DAD’s gentle voice
He’s asking questions
He listens too
Flo Oy Wong
(with assistance from Dana Pong)
November 11 2025
November 12 2025
🎁 Darryl’s memories of his father were woven into a poem that captures the fun and warmth in childhood traditions that have been carried forward to the next generation…
yum. . .
chips candies cookies
my DAD’s favorite snacks
are packed in the car
we his daughters
and son ready
for a family excursion
say hey dad
before we finish
sounding the d
in DAD
he hands us
a brown grocery bag
stuffed with guess what
chips candies cookies
yum . . .
on a Saturday or Sunday
morn when sun glistens
through window pane
French toast awaits us
DAD stirs the golden eggs
and transparent whites
his fork dancing
blending
yoke into egg white
and vice versa
DAD dips white bread slices
in eggy mixture whirled
with his love
yum . . .
crispy rice
fahn jow or fahn dell
a delicacy
from Yu Tin Cheurn
our ancestral village
makes my mouth water
in Castro Valley
DAD makes fahn jow
our ancestors smile
yum . . .
now i am a doting father
on family excursions
while riding in our car
Josiah and Theo
ask for snacks
i hand them
a brown grocery bag
stuffed with guess what
chips candies cookies
maybe some fahn jow
can I hear their . . .
yum . . .
Flo Oy Wong
(With assistance from Darryl Kong)
November 9 2025
November 10 2028
November 11 2025
November 12 2025
November 14 2025
🎁 Kelsey’s poetic prose about Dave recounts her father’s creative problem solving efforts to bring the family together during the Covid pandemic.
TO TOO: IN CASTRO VALLEY
Covid strikes in 2020.
Global pandemic
blankets our family too.
In Castro Valley where we live.
Mom and DAD parentally fret.
What to do? What to do?
DAD ever our problem solver tickles his brain.
Mom tickles hers too.
DAD (after consulting Mom,
of course) agrees to host safe family gatherings in our grassy backyard.
DAD buys 4 restaurant heaters,
(each weighing 40 lbs) for
the backyard so we can have
a safe place a space to commune together as a loving family.
We can stay warm even in chill
of cold wind whipping winter.
On the actual day of our get – together hours before anyone arrives DAD awakes when
sun beams dark morning sky.
Dad is already in the backyard.
He bends over setting up tables clicking sturdy folding chairs tightly.
Mom flings plastic tablecloths,
the plastic backyard tables
come alive with color and flowery
designs.
I crease paper napkins set out serving spoons place markers
by plastic cups.
DAD wheels out lamp bases
propane tanks one at a time.
I their youngest child still living
at home wipe my sleepy eyes.
Slowly a smile fills my be-ing.
In my slow morning I gift DAD
rice bowls filled with honeyed adoration.
Flo Oy Wong
(with assistance of Kelsey Kong)
November 21 2025
When you write, you permit yourself to access your memory stores, your imagination, your creativity, which we all have…
💐 LISTEN: Greater Good Magazine: OUR BRAINS ON POETRY
Learn how poetry can help your brain handle stress, process feelings, and spark insight.
This episode of The Science of Happiness is part of our series Using Art As Medicine. We explore poetry, one of the oldest artforms, powers our brains, calms our nervous systems, and reduces anxiety by opening doors into our psyche. Whether you’re reading or writing it, elements like rhythm, metaphor and rhyme improve memory, cognition and even self-esteem.