Nanjing, China, December 13, 1937

the fireworks go BOOM!

run, run, run, legs hurt, BOOM!
chase after father, the dog barks

and runs with us, it’s a game of tag,

away from the adults behind that stomp so loud,

that speak in strange sounds, that

carry more fireworks that go BOOM!

i copy others in their loud screams,

my throat is raw, it hurts,

someone yells to

run to the western quarter! to

the white men!

but i forgot to bring my things,

where is my pillow? where are my toys?

why are there fireworks? is it

the new year already? then where are

the dumplings, the dragon dancers?

why are we all running?

why is everyone screaming?

can’t breathe, legs ache, blurry,

hold your breath, father says,

like when we swim in the river-BOOM!

no red paper on the walls

for the new year today,

just red pools on the ground,

thick and muddy,

red and white flags,

like the sun, more-BOOM!

fireworks shouldn’t be this hot, and

shouldn’t hurt this much,

why are we

running, i’m tired-BOOM!

cough, head

hurts, where did

the dog go?

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

the new year is here!

the new year is here!

there’s so much red

beneath the adults’

heads, under their bodies,

legs weak, thud

on the ground, splash

red when you step, stains,

stains, mother

would be so mad,

can’t wash them out.

but where is

my mother?

now play dead

to trick the tagger,

father says, my mouth

so salty,

salt so

unlike soy sauce, and-

BOOM!

falling asleep now,

don’t lie down

on the ground,

mother would say,

i wonder

in my dreams,

about the

yellows

and the

blues in the sky,

where did they go,

when the fireworks went off?