A week after I arrived in America,
I walked into the classroom on the first day of school.
Designed with an orange spotted carpet, maroon chairs,
american flag and a peppermint smell of white board cleaner.

Remembering the time when I spent an entire morning
making Christmas tree with my family.
Feeling nostalgic,
The playground I used to go everyday after school,
a dented green slide, a yellow seesaw, and an old dusty swing.
I wanted to go back to the place
where there’s leftover chocolate chip cookies
after our family reunion night.

The teacher’s white upper teeth welcomed me
as I looked at her, I showed mine too
but at the same time, my eyes were
turning into a clogged wash-basin.

Lost in a crowd as a kid
made my heartbeat vibrate
to the point where I’m losing my breath

As class starts, I sat down on a
cold chair that made my whole
body freezing, it even blocked my tear duct.

I feel my head spinning
as if a bowling ball strikes the pins

Staring at the blank ceiling,
I feel my body remembering the time
when I played on the old dusty swing
twisted like a cruller.