playground scars
Little Girl swings in the air,
legs pumping, wind in hair
the closest to flight she’ll ever be.
freedom and fairytales whisper in her ears,
telling her with each swing, she’ll be closer to the clouds.
Little Girl and Little Boy swing in the air,
legs pumping, wind in hair,
‘friends forever’ echo in their laughter.
their shadows chase after them in the shade of the trees
and disappear in the sun.
Little Girl and Little Boy walk to the playground.
Little Boy’s hands cover Little Girl’s mouth,
no escaping sound.
her shadow disappears and his darkens.
Little Boy’s hands crawl over her body,
and Little Girl screams with no voice.
Little Girl’s ‘no’ is a game he now plays,
seeing how long until his friends focus their gaze,
laughing and pointing and poking and touching,
no this is not a phase.
Young Man steps into a dorm.
Young Woman is cornered by the upcoming storm
and he grabs her and smiles.
finally alone again she cries,
her skin burns with anger
fear and disgust become her reflection
she scrubs her skin,
but the dirt does not wash away.
Little Girl stares at her bedroom wall
she rewinds the clock, trying to stall
but when the sun sets, his shadow emerges
and hers runs to hide in the Land of Innocence.
Old Woman turns on the tv
Old Man is surrounded by red and blue lights.
Little Girl’s wails turn into a siren’s
Old Woman cries new kinds of tears,
her first smile appears after 75 years
freedom, relief, breathing again.
Old Woman swings in the air,
legs pumping, gray traced hair
no longer alone.
Little Girl holds her hands which no longer shake,
she clutches her heart, there’s no more ache.
they smile and watch as their shadows swing in the sunset,
flying fast,
healed at last.
Copyright ©
Oliver Chu
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