GHOST WARS by Vince Gotera
Cedar Falls, IA: Final Thursday Press, 2003

50 Years Later,
A Woman Recalls
based on a story in
National Geographic
(August 1995)

"Mother, may we please open that tin?"
four-year-old Akiko asked before breakfast.
"No, dear, we must save the tangerines,"

Shima sighed. "Akiko, you know we're keeping
our canned food in case the bombers attack.
You've asked May we please open that tin?

every morning for a week." Akiko grinned
and slipped into Shima's open arms for a quick
embrace, "Yes, we must save the tangerines."

They turned to slice radish leaves, stir soybeans.
Above, Enola Gay, Little Boy. Rice cooking.
Some mother's son says, "Please open the bomb

bay doors." Their home implodes. Shima and
her three other daughters never find Akiko.
Since then, No, we must save the tangerines

has resounded each morning in Shima's mind.
Daily, she recalls Hiroshima, Nagasaki—
kneels at her bedroom altar, offers an open tin
of tangerines. To save lost Akiko. Save Japan.

© Vince Gotera