Gun Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Octavia; I know
Your name is strange to
Those we agreed
To me too

And to your parents
For some time

You talked,
I heard you.

Carefully:
“Maybe it would have not been so if…”

I liked your approach
Sure not everyone
Not nationalists

You are a Christian
And Chinese
Of Hong Kong

Your name
A history as old as Confucius
Back and forth in unjust occupations,
Freedom?

“My parents gave me a Chinese name, ”
You said and I expected it.

“Our teacher was English
Could not remember and pronounce our Chinese names.

At eighteen for my mature ID
With the help of my sister
I chose this name.
So simple
Unique…Octavia…”

Yes unique as you said,

Unique

Being a Chinese
Being from Hong Kong
Occupied by Britain
The empire with no sunset
Imposition:
“You are good if like us
You think, you
Talk and
Live
As us”

Unique
“I am Chinese and
British, English
But my name
Uniquely
Greek.”
Though:
A Canadian
A student
A Caretaker
For
Chinese
I
Did not tell you of my thought
If I had a gun
I would kill
Seagull-likes
(Flying rats)


That is all.