School Trip to Mount Fuji

the boys behind me 

on the coach to Odaiba

are playing “kiss, marry, avoid” 

Akira is asking

his rapturous audience

which one would you, 

between Mizuki, Yuna and Tamiko 

he keeps explaining the rules

louder and louder

you have to ascribe 

one for each, between 

Mizuki, Yuna and Tamiko  

repeating the same options

for Mizuki, Yuna and Tamiko 

I shrink back into the seat

orange velvet scratching at my neck

try to close my ears against

the low murmurings that the boys begin

and I start to feel them:

tremors buried in the depths below

movements that lay dormant 

threatening to erupt

I will cover the world in fire