Ojichan

Rohwer, Arkansas—

the middle of nowhere if you’re from Arkansas

the middle of ‘that’s a place’ if you’re not

Unremarkably flat and barren but for the

barracks that showed up one day

Uninvited

Like your presence in the land of the free

home of the racist

You spent your childhood there—

your growing up years—

under the prying eyes of a

Cracker

in a guard tower

and the watchful eye of his M1903

You achieved greatness despite the 1942

Setback

Just ask Wikipedia

“Notable Internees”—like you did a

stint under the limelight while you were there

or something

Janice Mirikitani—poet laureate of

San Francisco

and George Takei—he shares your name

Just a few of the camp’s claims to fame

They labeled you as

Nisei

took away your father

sent your brothers off to fight—a

war against themselves

Worked your mother’s hands raw

refused you an

Education

but offered manual labor in its place

In a world that saw you as a three-lettered threat

You showed them that

Yellow

was just a color—a color to be

proud of

Like your almond eyes and

forgiving nature