The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

The motif of poetry recurs throughout the novel and is often a marker of love. As the source of the epigenetic memories, Afong Moy’s experience loving a poet establishes the motif. As Nanchoy assumes the role of her abuser, “She understood […] why Chinese folk tales about love always ended in tragedy. Maybe that is why she still cared about Yao Han. His stories were the hopeful opposite of poems like ‘The Everlasting Sorrow’” (127). Holding onto memories of Yao Han and his association with hopeful poetry becomes an anchor for Afong while poetry itself becomes a motif. Dorothy Moy is the poet laureate of Seattle, and she names Annabel Moy after a poem by Poe. Faye Moy reads poetry to John Garland, including “Annabel Lee.” Mrs. Bidwell gives Zoe Moy a volume of Sappho that becomes Zoe’s most prized possession and her connection with her beloved teacher. The last lines of Greta’s narrative (prior to Dorothy’s intervention) are lines of poetry: Greta Moy realizes that Sam purchased a whole stack of poetry that she recommended to him.