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Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 3311 Registered: 11-1998 |
Honorable Mention In India Laurie Byro a man in a black turban rides a bicycle alongside a train. He asks himself “Are you ready?” and answers by hurling himself on the tracks, forcing the train to stop. It screeches to a halt, babies begin to cry— mothers soothe them while men waiting in the surrounding fields rush the train with tin cans that slosh when they run. Golden fields grow stakes, scythes, and long knifes. Red poppies burst into flaming rags that are tossed through train compartments. Mangoes, figs and pomegranates tumble from baskets off luggage shelves. Windows are shattered, and the stench of hair as it burns brings many to their knees. A woman foolishly tries to save a basket of orchids and white lilies. A peacock screams as its wings catch fire, and a child sobs, mourning his pet. His mother covers his face with her shawl hoping Allah is merciful and her boy’s lips will not sear shut. She wills him to recite this story to her future grand children, asleep in the startled wings of birds whose feathers now strike sparks. |
