In a Year of Japanese Enigmas

in a year of Japanese enigmas

the poets left home to see:
only the moon
floating on a lake=
abandoned by the sky.

it’s you who’ll brush away

this calligraphy of tears inscribed;

it’s what you always do-

so that the pearl-drop moment

stands effaced
and my living soul with it.

I’m thumbing through my

Frommer’s Pop-up Book of Stars
not sure of  what to say-

I’ll ask you softly

so that you do not hear:

in the white jade mountains
with such a biting wind-

how did they find

the courage to write

about the plum blossoms

mary angela douglas 10 october 2011