Samurai Amidst Cherry Blossoms 2 [Lantern of Below] by Alastre ZidlerVoices.
Encircled by virtuous ladies,
A beautiful song-devil.
Lovers tell that the river
Is the mirror of his vanity.
Festival lanterns bathing water,
A moon-face in sun-hues.
He could be a poet,
Oh, oh,
He could play the biwa*!
From beneath
A poison ghost.
To gaze into his eyes is to
Fall into a deep well
In winter.
Petals scatter,
The demon-flower
Wilting in a
Memorial pyre.
Acrid prayers in
Tongue and tears.
In a sunless valley,
Half an echo.
The wing unfurls.
Red snow-ripples
In a calm pond.
The steel portrait
Of a swan
Painted with a brush
Of bone and fountain.
The scent of jasmine.
Shadow of a dead phoenix
Welting the inverted sky.
Singed black water,
Bereft of lantern light.
05/27/2003 Author's Note: *The biwa is a traditional Japanese instrument similar to the mandolin.
Posted on 05/27/2003 Copyright © 2024 Alastre Zidler
Member Comments on this Poem |
Posted by Agnes Eva on 05/27/03 at 07:32 PM enjoyed your delicate crafting of imagery here |
Posted by Graeme Fielden on 05/28/03 at 04:13 PM delicate & subtle imagery painted to the page...Another nice one Al!...looking forward to more! |
Posted by JD Clay on 05/29/03 at 08:48 PM This is a well-crafted piece, Alastre. Interesting message and concise free verse form. Peace... |
Posted by Kimberly Bare on 01/08/04 at 06:24 PM words escape me as i am still caught up in the scene playing before my eyes...i love the surreal feel of this...Great Writing! |
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