#jason fong
Yuri was here
but
nothing
marks her birth
no nation
honors her death
so they made their own
testimony
of the life lived
the generations rebirthed
the children raised
the voices spurred
the borders crossed
the liberation sought
the evidence that she lived large
to scream that she stayed true
to show that she moved us forward
because it pains to see
our giant
leave without a trace
ignored or forgotten by most
but
cherished by those
who keep on
keepin’ on
Keepin’ the struggle alive
even when they mourn
when they decided
to gather memories
to commemorate her life
to celebrate her fight
on their own
they did just what
Yuri would do
if she were still here
Rest easy, Mrs. Kochiyama.
Jason Fong is a high school student at Redondo Union High School interested in Asian American issues.
