The Husband

(poems go here) Ever since I was a young boy My father would tell me to grow up to be a junzi Perfect man, gentleman scholar Cultivate myself morally Treat others with kindness Protect my family Cherish my wife Yobo, you were so beautiful on our wedding day Though we were not allowed to see each other before the end of the ceremony I snuck a glance at you Ivory skin and flower petal pink cheeks Glittering almond eyes The same lovely face I fell in love with when I was a child We were nineteen The rich cry of the lutes And happy clanging of the gong celebrating our union Still haunts my ears I still remember the warmth of your delicate hand as we danced And I remember our short lived happiness as you were torn away from me As the harsh storm rips blossoms from the tree Never to be seen again So you were The blood drenched sun scorching the sprout that was my hope I tried to protect you, us. Rushed to your aid as you fought like a lioness Your hair became undone as they pulled at you Blinded by fury, I knocked two Imperial soldiers to the ground A gunshot and a shriek I touched my chest to find crimson coating my hands They’d forced you into the truck by then The world seems to be submerged into a vat of rice wine Sluggishly, hopelessly, I made my way towards you Tears stream down your face, diamonds Fingers outstretched, intertwine one last time Then blackness. And now, the scar above my heart is the only remnant of that day. Of you. Yobo, wait for me.