PUZZLE BOX

A puzzle box from Japan 

a few pieces of wood that slide around until

you find a little box inside.

But the puzzle box I am thinking of
has many more compartments and pieces to move.

The first side slides up,

the piece underneath moves easily and

here is a large compartment.

In it there is a little plastic figure of a brown person.

Then the opposite side slides up

and here is a quote from Kafka on a little slip of paper,

“War is the result of a monstrous lack of imagination.”

There is a false floor in this compartment.

Here, there are little legs, arms and heads

representing 12,000 people killed in Palestine and Israel.

Then you start crying,

and the top slides away.

You may want to find the reason

why people kill each other

though greed seems to play a big role.

When that top slides there is a little drawer underneath

has burnt into the wood itself

Peace is a need – Herbert Brün

Then a side piece slides and reveals a drawer that has

tiny pieces of black licorice

as if death could be sweet

but now you are crying

with however a tiny piece of licorice in your mouth.

How could this happen?

The intrigue of the box mixes with

the vast regret for human unkindness.

In the last drawer you find,

an unexpected aroma

from incense in a temple so small

you almost can’t see it

and that is where hope begins.