Meanwhile, in Japan

Keigo smiles,
Vibrant light
Like a brain-washed commercial for Crest
Total White;
Absolute Whitewash.
Keep his childhood in-tact:
Don’t question fact.

Another boy tugs his shirt
On a basketball court-of-law.
Fight time. Keigo frowns.
What’s the deal?
‘Sportsmanship’ real?

Jump in.
Teach, teacher.
Make Pink Floyd cry.
Die.
Rubber balls fly.
Didn’t you say that ‘defense’ matters?

Defend the ball?
Defend the man?
Defend your grades?
This is my turf.
Hallowed earth.

Wait—here’s a story.
See? Parables.
Anger steaming, . . . → Read More: Poem for Keigo

They were all wearing surgical masks. A class of twenty-eight teenagers, rows perfectly formed within a square matrix of identical, alternating male and female designated clothing. Uniform sneakers made of canvas (red for girls, blue for boys), approved styles of mask on every face, concealing, what, frowns? Smiles? That one girl with the cleft . . . → Read More: Outbreak!