Sepia of Separation

This is inspired by a true, recent event in which the family and its two children had been separated from their father for three years due to unjust detainment in a foreign country.

Sepia of Separation

 

            t  h  e    r  e  d    b  a  r  s     a  r  e     l  i f  t  e d

                I    e m b r a c e    t h e    w a r m t h    t h a t    S e p a r a t i o n   slowly spins into foreignness

                and we remove the camera’s dusty lens hood…

 

One thousand

                        (“Why is he caged?”)

zero hundreds, yet still many centuries

                       for me and for them

                        (“What did Dad do?”)

ninety-five stagnant days

                        (“Why is he caged?”)

                each day seeming to only pass

                        when the hours have reached 72…

                        (“What did Dad do?”)

It’s been that long

since I’ve seen him--

                        truly seen him--

           not trapped in crimson bars,

           watched by golden, predatorous eyes,

           with a creeping feeling of nostalgia,

           sadness,

           and a deepening sense of knowing

                        that our time together was an hourglass,

                                         the length it takes for the sands to fall

                                   through its transparent globes…

                        An hourglass that didn’t have to be so small,

                        An hourglass manufactured

                                    by scarlet hands

                                    and bronze flames.

An hourglass that painted out our vignettes in sepia,

                                        water-stained sepia:

                                   momentary and impermanent,

                                   so explicitly temporal,

                                   that photography

and muted color

                                   almost seem identical

                                    to these granule-sized moments…

(“Why is he caged?”)

(“What did he do?”)

One

w    

Three years.

 

It’s been that long since the simplicities

            of familial unity--

                        in all of its rainbows of expression--

            have been more than distant dreams,

                        sepia memories that mock me in their frames.

“Why is he caged?”

“What did Dad do?”

                        These questions from tiny lips,

                       lips that already know the answers

          but continue to ask

          because the ‘answers’ fail to make any logical sense.

“Why is he caged?”

“What did Dad do?”

Because, one day, the owner of these lips hopes the answer will be:

                                  “He isn’t.”

            the red bars are lowered

                I  let go of  the wrinkled warmth Brevity    h a s    s p u n     i n t o   a n   e p h e m e r a l  f a m i l i a r i t y

                a  n  d     l  e  a  v  e    m  y    d  i  s  a  p  p  e  a  r  i  n  g     h  u  g  s     i  n     t  h  e    c  a  m  e  r  a / l  e  n  s

Author's Note

MUCH GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO SIGNED THE PETITION AND SPREAD THE WORD! AS OF JUNE 2013, VICTORIA HU HAPPILY WROTE ON THE CHANGE.ORG SITE:

"After almost 5 years, my dad is finally home! Watching him walk around trying to find the chopsticks is the best feeling ever!! Thanks everyone!!!"--Victoria Hu

Of course, this poem probably didn't raise that much awareness, but thanks anyway. : )
____________________________
This poem was written to raise awareness about an American automotive engineer who had been detained in China, separated from his family (who haven't seen him for over three years), by the Tianjin police and their unexplained border control which prevents him from returning to America and his family. Thanks to all those who signed the Petition to free Dr. Zhicheng Hu:

Petition (VICTORY!!): http://www.change.org/petitions/help-my-father-dr-zhicheng-hu-come-home

Informative Comic by Yuumei (the icon for this poem is from here): http://yuumei.deviantart.com/#/art/Father-264884676?hf=1

Learn more about the situation here:

The below is written by Yuumei--

The issue was brought to me by means of art/storytelling, so I wanted to try to expand awareness in the same way, but with poetry. The person who informed me had this in the description of her awareness comic 'Father':

This is a 100% true story about the plight my friend is currently going through. It is complete injustice and no one should have to grow up without a father, especially not someone as kind and caring as my friend. She has been working so hard to reunite her father with their family, but there is only so much one can do. If everyone helped just a little by signing the petition and spreading the word, we can make a real difference.

________________________________
Thank you for reading and thanks again to those who signed and spread the word. : )

Reviews

[Rhianne Ney]

:/ Whoa, this is pretty serious. I do find these heart breaking. And somehow I do hope that I can help. Thanks for writing this. Your words are always well expressed and nice play with words with deep and proper meaning. I like your writing style also. Sorry for the late drop by but it's seriously nice that I was able to read this and promise I shall send the word.~

[Writer #00]

Yeah... I wrote this literally the day I found out. The only thing is, I'm not sure what the current situation is because the most recent article I found about it was written in March... who knows where Dr. Hu is now....maybe already free? At any rate, I'm glad you know and can now help him and his family...if needed...

Thanks for reading!

[Rhianne Ney]

You're welcome and yeah, me too. When I visited the page it still needs signs

[Writer #00]

Yep...

[Rhianne Ney]

:D

[Devanshu Rajput]

A beautiful piece raising the awareness. A sad story.

[Writer #00]

Thank you for exposing yourself to the situation, spread the word...please : )

[Xerclipse]

its very sad to hear the story and to read this too! Keep raising the awareness! its wrong to keep people separated like that!
(sorry i have been out for so long but im back now :D)

[Writer #00]

Yep, that's the goal of this poem. Did you sign the petition?
(it's all good, I've been off-and-on)

[Xerclipse]

Yes I did! :D well after my exams are done, I will be more on than on and off XD

[Writer #00]

Possibly same here... I haven't gotten a chance to really read anything on here lately because of finals.

[Debbie_Philly]

Wow .. POWERFUL !!! I will sign the petition.... awesome way to raise awareness.... thats a poets job !!! :) Amazing !!!

[Writer #00]

Thanks. One of my goals has been to find a way to use my writing for things such as this... I suppose this is my first try. Thank you for reading and signing, I pray it helps!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This is a shattering testament to the depravity of human kind. Guantanamo bay we go on and on. Powerful preditors roam these lands still and if they don't rape and pillage they will steal the bread from your mouth and lock you up if its not wholemeal!

[Writer #00]

Glad you got the message.. spread the word if you can~ : )

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

[Priyanka Natesh]

I read about him too. And I signed the petition if that helps.

You have conveyed the message loud and clear in the poetic verve with just the right amount of emotion. It is an eye opener. Great job. Thank you :)

[Writer #00]

Much thanks for signing the petition (I hope it helps : ) ) and it's nice to know that someone thinks the message was conveyed well...if it wasn't then the entire point of the poem is lost... Thanks again.