Those Were the Days

I remember the days

Of after school escapades.

We watched the afternoon scuttle along

As we filled each others’ ears with classic remarks.

–

Your gestures still dance before my eyes:

Please tell me you still remember the stitch at your sides

When I made you forget who we were – two fearless innocent girls

At the ice-cream shop – and gave everything you had in

You to laugh;

The comfortable shy silence that followed

When we hastily scooped up

Rare bits of still-intact ice-cream

Ring in my ears –

I want to go back to those

Careless days of fro-yo nonsense,

When we painted each other’s imaginary canvas,

And sparks ignited my only heart.

–

Iris Zhang, May4, 11

Edited May23, 12

Displacement

Communication, the high brick walls

Of words and pause;

Pause like a mouth just about to

Open; Open those cold, indifferent walls,

For I cannot climb, for I cannot

Suffer your insurmountable walls

That bear no meaning, that bear no weight

On this burden of thoughts that compel me

To keep banging on those formidable walls.

–

Iris Zhang, May11