​red velvet

this one home
and the family in it.
they have a new year’s plan,
a party in a day.
these people like to be alone,
the homes near them are now just ruins.
the new year’s eve,
a journalist from the government’s news channel roams around
with his camera man,
the camera off.

the mother is thinking of what flavour cake
the boys would like.
blueberry?
chocolate?
the bland one. correct.

the kids are lying on the bed, under the sheets.
pieces of the sheets,
having the best nap of their lives.

the father is outside the home, sitting on a rocking chair,
with the left armrest broken.
he’s waiting till the new year’s party
to eat something after days.

and then the camera starts to record.
record the ruins that was a home two days earlier.
the new year’s party preparations.
the rocking chair still moves
the kids are lying under the red waterpaint blanket.
having the best nap of their lives.

and there’s a burning smell.
a sweet, burning scent
from the kitchen.
a red velvet cake.

-Haashir I. Firdausi