The Turtle
by Min Ji Park
Too often I find myself
Roaming the aisles
Of my local pet store.
I watch the turtles
In their ten-gallon universe,
Swimming and basking.
But today,
The yellow shells and red eyes
Spoke to me.
“Why do you come to see us?”
The turtles asked.
“We know you won’t take us home.
You just take what you
Need from us, and leave.”
“I don’t know”
I replied.
“Sometimes I wish
I was the turtle.”
“Why?”
They say.
“We won’t be here next week.
But you will.”
About the Author
Min Ji Park was born in South Korea and raised in Hong Kong. While attending New York University she began writing poetry. She has Autism Spectrum Disorder and considers poetry a useful tool in conveying thoughts and ideas that she previously had found difficult to communicate or understand. She has previously been published in Poets Choice.