Halloween
For Yoshihiro Hattori

Still
All movement ceases
But the rainbow clock
continues to tick

The rest of the world continues to tick

The floor still tells your story
In stains of red
Patterned with that fateful Halloween

The rest of the world continues to tick

One fluorescent light
spotlights where you last stood
Leaving shadowed corners
For the dust and secrets

The rest of the world continues to tick

Paneled walls
White-washed
Concealing

tragic history

The rest of the world continues to tick

The door you approached
Six windows covered with blinds
The Welcome mat
faded

They feared you
Your darker skin
Your difference

The rest of the world continues to tick

Fear strikes fear
Strikes fear
Strikes fear
Contagious
Strikes fear
Contagious.
Until

No more.