OKU, The Deep Interior

On living in Japan

     *** 

So far ahead of you--I waited.

Time/space/light meant nothing.

Traveling far, dressed smartly, yet without wisdom, beyond reason,

my shallow fears aged my jeans until

            they were rags.

The t-shirt you tore off my chest, a badge of honor,

            used to humiliate me

Its ragged edges soft but viciously torn

Stopped—Again—Waiting

Next time, I'll be traveling light, I said.

 

 

If you care to remember, I had to throw it away (the t-shirt).

            Oh, and my sandals vanished, too.

Then I was naked, a baby, again, so old with pain — I know, blah, blah, you are not  listening again.

But that’s how I measure time, that’s how I try the tedious hours.

In stasis, I created nothing, but with indolence,
           

returning—I found vacancy and space.

Inn Reverse, (allow me some lazy doggerel, because I will never grow up),

 

where I wrote a verse,

            In that place where you found me, counterpoint and then fusion,

And so, we lingered;

I remember the tatami—the pungent aroma, particularly;

             you do too,

If you are being honest

You enjoyed the view from the window on the balcony.