Soekarno-Hatta riot
July 6, 2015 – the day after fire in Soekarno-Hatta Airport
the
airport is still hot, still burning
from
yesterday’s fire, from the wrath
and
anger of people stuck
in
the claustrophobic port
guns
are impatient to kiss goodbye
rifles
in hand, the army
walked
me and the ukulele
on
my back to the waiting room
of
uncertainty, of anxiety
seven
long hours
of
restless sitting
- let’s burn this airport!
someone
shouts
half
of the room cheer
in glee, in fury
guns
are impatient to kiss goodbye
- let’s burn this airport!!
the
echoes grow louder
until
they become a battle cry
am I
going to witness the birth
of a
riot, as the soldiers start to rally
forming
shields for female officers
to
escape, to run
guns
are impatient to kiss goodbye
rifles
open their greedy mouth
ready
to shout, ready to launch
ready
to belt their dashing melody
star
divas in the symphony
of
death, of pain and wound
of
blood
a
lady next to me cowers
in
fear – did she think of her husband?
of
her daughter tightly held
that
little girl looking at me
guns
are impatient to kiss goodbye
faint smile on her lips
curiosity sparks in her eyes
as she touches my ukulele
slowly – is that a
guitar?
I nod
she grins
- want me to play?
she nods
my fingers move
strumming slowly
in imperfection,
broken rhythm
in all the chaos
her unworried smile
Oh. Thank you. That little girl's smile stayed with me all day.
ReplyDeleteart and spirit to the rescue,(again) thank you Chrysogonus
ReplyDeletethe uke is really significant in the poem, nice one!
ReplyDeletehow great to be able to capture this window into history
ReplyDelete