a nine-year old does not know much of the world
but she thinks she does. because she knows
cartoons and youtube and the kung fu panda saga
cruel jokes on the woodchip playground
bloody knees after falling onto hot asphalt
french grammar packages and recorders
and sadistic choir directors
a nine-year old does not know
heartbreak and being dumped in a mcdonalds
but she does know that she really likes oreo mcflurries
she didn’t really understand why
that jiejie was tearing up her floral wallet
the cotton soaked in vengeful tears
she didn’t really understand why
that gege avoided her eyes as he
grabbed his denim herschel backpack and
his half-empty orange smoothie and
left her
a nine-year old does not know
why her mother pinched her as she stared
but she does know oreo mcflurries melt really fast
she didn’t really understand why
that girl was being wheeled in by an employee
why her fingers were crooked and her head tilt
sideways and her right arm bent in
and why she had to be fed french fries
but she did know that girl caught her staring
she knew that girl cracked a smile after seeing her
innocent toothy grin
a nine-year old does not know much of the world
she knows that now.
*Chinese terms:
jiejie = older sister
gege = older brother
Photo: Magda Fou on Unsplash.com
