Our Hashima
Written and photographed by Kevin D’Abramo.
I’m a little worried though, says my beloved
she crosses her legs and furrows her brow.
They might not mention the Korean conscripts
she says, nor the Chinese prisoners of war.
Momentary silence, but she knows the photos have enthralled me.
My curiosity now protean –
typical expat, I’m drawn to Hashima
the sublime historical freak show proving just too enticing.
We flip up our hoods, hold hands
she forces a smile into the wretched wind
hundred or so passengers don plastic ponchos
the captain thrusts us into the roiling sea.
Then through the window Hashima appears
framed by grey clouds and frothing waves
blackish and scarred it sits high on a hill, like a castle
though only abandoned some forty years ago.
Our boat approaches the chipped and splotchy sea wall
the motor revs and the water churns, like a school of piranha attacking.
White knuckles clutch the gangplank’s
swaying chain railing.
Earphones sputter the English translation
as the tour guide shouts above the ear-strafing wind
behind her is a former school. Next to the school an apartment block
looms ten stories high, the windows devoid of glass, like gaunt eyes.
Harried and battered by wind the tour guide
might be skipping information
allowing history to leak between the cracks
my beloved’s face frowns.
A belly of blackish cloud hangs low
a gust of wind blows the guide’s cap
clean off, it flies like a baby ghost and
whips back into the roped-off ruins.
Near the end of the talk she mentions
the Koreans and Chinese
they worked and lived here too, she states
and suffered hardships.
An afterthought perhaps, but something.
Ponchos flutter, the wind now stronger.
Rain pelts my back as the group
heads back to the boat.
I turn back to view the guide’s helper hop
the rope fence, dash after the cap and
scuttle beyond a wall of ruins as the wind wails.
THE AUTHOR
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Kevin D’Abramo studied English literature and creative writing in university. He came to South Korea to teach English after completing a PhD at the University of Montreal, which focused on postmodern treatments of proletarian fiction. Besides creative writing, he enjoys playing bass guitar and traveling.