Change Poem by Jackie Chou

The scissors in her hand

fell to the ground with a clunk
like my father's words

My mother

trimming the edges of my camel drawing
to tape to the wall

before the news
seeped into our veins like poison

The peas and carrots
she stir fried for a tofu dish
turned cold in the skillet

My clothes were put on lopsidedly

Dad had lost his job

Mom's housewife days were over

The air sagged with a new reality