Requiem for a Vietnamese Sampan Girl

By Jackson H. Day
Annapolis, MD, October 1996





Decades have passed
since your unspeakable death
at the hands of the Americans.


*

But I only just heard.
My heart is pierced
as if it were yesterday.


*

I feel such anger.
I rage at all who do not know,
who have not heard,
who do not share
the burden of your pain,
the burden of our shame.


*

Driving down the highway,
I am surrounded by wildflowers:
pink and violet wildflowers
dancing in the sun.


*

I feel your presence among the wildflowers.
My eyes fill with tears.
I drive down the highway,
sobbing among the wildflowers,
seeing rainbows in the bright sunlight.


*

Our Lady of the wildflowers:
have mercy on us who share a terrible humanity:
grant us the peace that dances in the sun.


Jackson H. Day October, 1996

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©1996 Jackson H. Day. All Rights Reserved.

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