TRAGIC Poem: Eastern Delicacies, by Mady Eason

Konnichiwas, eyes taped back, surveyed by scum.
Barbed onrushes pilgrimage like an extracurricular,
repeating with a cruel grin–no, where are you really from?

Sticky heat intervenes attention–a fly in molasses,
sparse foliage the only available asylum. Queues snake and
twine–promises of cool drinks root feet to pavement.

Administrations bludgeon elders, turn backs as they scatter like a crumb.
Aunty and unc phone home, ominous foresight–an acumen aims for the jugular
Konnichiwas, eyes taped back, surveyed by scum.

Stalls burst with Eastern delicacies–crunchy, sickening sweet
tanghulu offset by sharp, spicy cheese-dogs, chewy
bao buns topped with fresh greens and reds of chili oils.

Death, rape, kidnapping concealed within lands of saccharum,
destructive symphonies detain sobs and laments, weepings on the regular,
repeating with a cruel grin–no, where are you really from?

Chatters, squeals, cheers mingle throughout impenetrable
crowds, as if stuck within a terrarium. Girlfriend’s palms adhere to
distracted boyfriends, oily skewered meat drips down fingers.

Whiteness glorified, God extolled by eyewitnesses of a shaman’s succumb
to deprivation, isolation, locals trammeled from their vernacular–
Konnichiwas, eyes taped back, surveyed by scum.

A taste of home–savory soy flavored pancit backed by dense pork lumpia.
Rich, chocolatey Vietnamese coffee that energizes attendees–
Where do you see yourself ? Where are you among these words?

Silk, porcelain, meditation, matcha, boba-tea, cotton become
group projects with only foreign invaders acknowledged as spectacular,
repeating with a cruel grin–no, where are you really from?

Artists, jewelers, and seamstresses display their wares within the
frigid building, enticed shoppers desperate to find a reprieve
lounge together, exchange of discourse fills the vast room.

Mercenary vultures disguised as men endlessly circle the ornate chrysanthemum,
inscribe slurs and innuendos and accusations and non particular
Konnichiwas, eyes taped back, surveyed by scum
repeating with a cruel grin–no, where are you really from?

Thai performers display strength, physique, and discipline.
Children giggle, mimic their own performance across the clovers and dandelions.
Returns to cheeseburgers, french fries, and to-go cups dripping with bright reds and
dark browns of chocolate coated strawberries clutched in sweaty hands