A Family, Legally Torn

Based on "The Land of the Free" by Sui Sin Far.

A son born in China,

torn away from his mother’s arms,

a paper needed.

 

Tomorrow’s sun

promises his return.

Tomorrow’s sun lies.

 

A mother suffers sleepless nights,

waiting for the sun to rise

and bring her son’s return.

 

Empty arms ache

under the bed sheets,

not knowing what to do,

what to hold.

 

A father receives a letter.

He’s received it a dozen times before.

Overcome with apathy,

he shows no more emotion.

 

A lawyer has a plan.

Desperate parents surrender everything-

everything except a ring-

to receive the sacred paper-

a legal paper.

 

A son eats his breakfast

in a nursery school,

his home for ten months.

His teacher takes him from his food,

leads him down the hall.

At the end of the hall,

a lady yells, “My Little One!”

 

Frightened

by the scary stranger,

he cowers

behind his teacher’s skirt.

“Go’way, go’way!” he screams.

Reviews

[Chloe]

"Tomorrow's sun lies." Stunning line, amazing piece.

[Alicante lullaby]

simply written but very effective...though i'm not accquainted by the exact background but it is a very moving write.