Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2019 | Page 81

pity resentment sorrow remorse contrition
self-reproach shame weak relief distress
anxiety hesitation doubt uncertainty
guilt.
we lock eyes
he runs.
Zheng He steps forward from the crowd
his head blocking the sun from shining on my face
his long shadow from his long frame
shades me for a while
he stops,
looks at me,
silent. the crowd has
stopped laughing
so silent, you could hear
a water droplet plop!
softly! on the floor!
he kneels down,
we’re eye to eye
i see the wrinkles on his face
beginning to form from years
of travels taking their toll on him
it’s a shame,
he says.
he stands up and
turns away.
that’s it. he’s gone. the crowd
they begin to laugh again
i writhe on the plank, nearly
falling into the sea,
but my arms are bound, too
much to risk.
suddenly
without any
warning,
i’m falling. a push
a kick, what did it matter
they drowned me
i’m dying.
i’m dying.