The New Year ’ s Eve was overwhelmed by rain of cannonballs and gunshots .
They claimed startled lives
Old and younglings alike ;
Flabbergasted
Confused
Shanghai surrendered to the Rising Sun in distraught .
The lamp stood soberingly ,
Witnessing the Japanese march of triumph .
Fireworks , lanterns , all lights were banned
And everything was hushed into pitch darkness .
Black became the new trend
Poets and musicians
Took their last bow .
Spies and tycoons fled in haste
Gentlemen and ladies ,
Became refugees and homeless .
Those who stayed had to kneel before
The new Japanese conquerors .
The lamp ,
Now covered with faded club posters and ragged photographs
Became a hazy memory .
Passers-by looked at it with pity
As if the artworks stung their suffering souls .
Days dragged on like years .
People were looking forward to being free again ,
Their lives were stained with terror and fear