Geography Lesson # 1: Cambodia

They tortured him
in front of his mother,
made her watch
and not cry.
They made him watch
her watch him,
the inaudible wail
amplifying
the torture.

Another boy, too young
to fight,
tended goats
behind the prison
where the torturing
was done.
Now people say
he’s not quite right,
can’t sleep at night
for all the screaming
he still hears.

5/24/02