Often, they carried each other
wounded, weak
they carried pots
and pans
to bang in solidarity
against Tatmadaw,
the military.

They carried time from prison for their words
they carried scars,
from rubber bullets, stun guns, sniper fire.
They carried pain
from the murders of their friends.

Most of all
they carried Myanmar
they carried Burma
on their backs.

Inspired by ‘The Things They Carried’ by Tim O’Brien