Lost Friends
Every time 6 year old toki would go to the village,
She would run around the trees
And steal some mangoes.
She would walk down the short path to the river on grandma’s road.
Though 6-year old toki never knew how to swim,
She would take a dip in the river until her eyes turned red.
She would laugh as the fishes swam after her floating panties.
But when 10-year old toki would go to the village,
She would not take a dip in the river,
For the fishes that swam with her floating panties
Never returned.
Now the only thing that floated was the black liquid that fought with the river.
The only things that swam were the empty plastic wraps of snacks she brought for grandma and her friends.
But 10-year old toki would still run around the trees and steal mangoes.
20-year toki now refuses to visit the village.
For when she goes, her long friends in the river have still not returned.
The black liquid has won the war and
The fallen fruits at the back of grandmas house have been replaced by the stones from grandmas new neighbors.