While I Watched the Airplanes is Dorothy Yuan's first collection of poetry, primarily inspired by a fateful Sunday spent - needless to say - at the airport viewing gallery. Like airplane spotting, the collection takes a retrospective and observational approach to an array of relationships one could have: familial, platonic, romantic, with art, society, and one's self. She writes in a wistful tone, presenting the occurrence and breakdown of these relationships, and the emotions that remain after parties depart.