Bang For Freedom

Bangs… shots of memories past Take me back to where I was… The barbed wire walls, The plank beds The grenades fall. My eyes were wide open Like a lost deer separated from the herd. The smoke clouding my eyes, Even the wisdom of the elders failed; Garlic would not ward off The sting grenades. Rattans banging, bludgeons banging, My chest dense with smoke For the fire consumed the silhouette against the blackened sky. My eyes were wide open To see through the cloud of tears, The flagging sign: SOS freedom. Cardboard strewn, Hearts wounded and lost Like lights just turned off. The ears ring, zinging From the bangs. My eyes were wide open… Now, against the blackened sky Shots of memories from years past: The grenade, the rattan, and the bludgeon. I still see the fire ablaze and my heart bangs For the crickets chirping, For the ribbits echoing, For the night birds singing, For the pond to cradle me, For the boundless grass, For my silhouette forever burns In the night full of freedom. November 16, 2020