River on Baltic Sea

Chocolate – Mint Whiskream

I sniffed in silence, wiping my nose clean with sleeves under the air conditioner.
You asked for an eraser but passed me tissue paper.
I curled it under my nose and finished my test with April 27th.
Got extra five minutes of rest, plus ten minutes before the next class.
No one’s gonna notice. Outside, I closed the door gently behind.

———–

The night air swelled in the alleyway.
Condensed on my skin and trickling down with my sweat.
My soul almost left me as I jumped at the growling sounds of dogs coming from roadside cages.
I continued with my eyes fixed on lanterns floating red between poles in darkness.
The journey ended on the crowded old town streets and it already felt like ages.

———–

I muttered excuse me as I made my way through leg hair and shoelaces.
My heaving chest choked on incense while my stomach rumbled over the din.
I smelled boiled peanuts mixed with damp socks and sesame oil with cigarettes.
Swallowing an urge to retch, I firmed my stand at the front, and
Looked towards the gibbous moon dangling between the luminous temple and the scarlet bridge.

———–

Mom said you found deities in every corner of the sky.
One on the moon, one weaving red strings under the moonlight, and one protecting the town where land touched the sky.
I was not sure which one would come down to the street today, but in my heart there was one I secretly prayed for.
But anyway I wouldn’t recognize any of them, for when it came,
The parade was so bright in neon light I instinctively stepped back.

———–

It turned out we celebrated all of them.
Waves after waves of festival floats slowly broke through flocks of people.
They shouted to divinely dressed impersonators standing or sitting on the decorated cars.
I did not forget the reason for risking my speckless records of punctuality.
I gulped down my fear, went back to the front, and reached out my tiny hands.

———–

Showers of candies fell like rain.
The convoy slowed down to make sure everybody was safe.
Hands searched in lantern-like baskets and made graceful arcs in the air.
I couldn’t catch any because everybody else was faster, and I watched sadly as
A girl in front carried on his father’s back put coins of chocolate in a plastic bag, chuckling as they went away.

***************************

I walked alone back the lane.
The watch said ten past eight and I couldn’t care less.
The night was heavy and still, filled with tension of tears.
I was so focused on my shadow on the road, that
I bumped into someone with a white beard, so long it touched my sandals.

———–

“Here,” I whispered, handing out a small cake covered with drizzled mint chocolate.
My face reddened when you smiled and said thanks, and I told you I was trying to catch a rat in the school garbage can.
The teacher excused me, for I got full marks on my test.
“Where did you get it, though?” you asked. “Not from the parade?”
I said no as I watched you pick up a delicate rose made of red chocolate curls, sniff it carefully, and take a bite.

River on Baltic Sea Website