What Happened by Hao Nguyen
I look out the window and what do I see?
I see the tall, towering trees.
I see the dew-soaking grass.
I hear the orchestra of small bees.
I can see on the road a pile of broken glass.
I see the vivid sunny skies.
I see the scattered rocks.
And the clouds looming way up high.
And a golden gliding meadow lark.
I see all these things
Either sitting in the shade of the conifers as the wind stirs in the air
While birds fly angelically without care
Or laying in the rays of the sun
Where beautiful flowers grow
And where rushing rivers run.
I see all these things
But there is something missing...
Where is everybody?
What happened to all the people who once played on these streets,
Kicking a ball from one street end to the other together,
Calling it a make-shift soccer?
What happened to long summer days
Where you would ride your bike down the gravel paths down to the park?
What happened to the witty remarks,
That two friends would make with each other before bursting into spontaneous laughs?
What happened to the days where you grabbed your bat
And began hitting rocks into the river
Watching them plunge as you shivered
From the cool mist and refreshing water?
What happened to chasing butterflies by the meadow in the morning,
Or dragonflies in the fields at noon,
Or fireflies by the lake at night?
What happened to seeing a beautiful sight?
What happened to those days where you ran so much
You wanted to throw up
But you kept on running
Because you were having too much fun?
What happened to tanning in the sun?
And water balloons and wet shoes, or seeing baboons at the zoo
What has happened to us?
Where is everybody?
I can't see a single person.
Where are the people?
What happened to picnics and laughs?
With ants crawling across your calves?
What happened to basketball by the courts?
Or even summer shorts?
What happened to being with the friends you use to spend time with?
And seeing that special person you miss?
What happened to that dream of a perfect kiss?
What happened to being dared to play nightly visits
To the dark woods or a spooky cemetery?
What happened to making the perfect memory?
And what happened to just having fun?
Now the majority of the generation sits lazily,
Staring at the TV screen in hesitation
As they wait for something interesting to watch.
They lie helpless and motionless
As they play their video games and eat for fun.
Come on!
You can't be serious!
They wait and talk to others over their phones
That they own
While instant messaging others over the Internet
While looking up idiotic videos
On sites' whose names they tend to forget.
Go outside!
Friends have told and scold them,
But they aren't so bold.
They say they will, but they don't...
No! They won't!
They stay inside their walls making their calls
As their friends pity this lazy city and all who inhabit it.
What happened to a beautiful scenery and imagination,
Instead of this disgusting obesity and procrastination?
And as I stare out the window
To see the giant tree, the melody of the bees...
To see the wet morning grass, the shattered glass...
To see the scattered rocks, the golden lark...
To see the bright blue skies, the clouds way up high,
And the birds that angelically fly by,
I sigh and ask myself why?
What happened?
