In Each Beat of Grandfather's Heart

Written by Cindy Miao from Maryland, USA

you’re wearing the yellow jacket your daughter lent you 

despite her protests, you say, it’s my time to go 

your knees shake as you climb aboard the bus, and as it pulls

away years fall from your shoulders, folding away into city dissonance 

despite her protests, you said, it’s my time to go 

raging fire against your mother’s watery eyes, home spilled down her cheeks

years fell from your shoulders, folding away into city dissonance would you

have known about your medals of valor? your bloodied reflection?

raging fire against your mother’s watery eyes, home spilled down her cheeks

your daughter, with a child, cried silently behind locked doors would you

have known about your medals of valor? your bloodied reflection? my chest

throbs: I know you are not the same man 

your daughter, with a child, cried silently behind locked doors

you stood on the other side, screaming lifetimes of pain 

my chest throbs: I know you are not the same man 

lifetimes of beating, your heart couldn’t take it anymore 

you stood on the other side, screaming lifetimes of pain 

we stood above your waxen body, home spilling down our cheeks

lifetimes of beating, your heart couldn’t take it anymore 

as they buried you beneath the heavy earth, 

you wore the yellow jacket your daughter lent you.