The Price of Silence

We were told to never talk

about trauma that suffocates

chokes the womb

if we spoke

gratitude would silence us

grief reveal expunged lies

deceit meant to kill

force another breath

lies dance across bastard reality

governments would tumble

We were told to never talk

about lost but not found names

so our Korean families

could forget our tiny feet

our 2:00 a.m. infant cry

first Korean lullaby babble

wobbly steps, cling to furniture

one hundred–day celebration

first birthday

never worn child size hanboks

blank university entrance exams

unserved military service

first dates, soju shots

school field trips

eyelids never double folded

3:00 a.m. Kakao messages

wedding hall matrimony

We were told to never talk

about our grief and loss

more massive than Gwanghwamun

jigsaw families

framed with missing pieces

our silence bleeds a slow death