Gray rainy day,
Steady drops changed his Umbrella into a drum.
Rain, plops of drops
Around them. No conversation
But man and woman agreed – the hill.
They both walked to the
Cherry trees at the top of
the hill, rain spattered pond below.
The grey heron stood
In the pond blithely ignoring
The falling rain.
Knowing him well, the woman
Balanced herself down the slope
To stand on the rock
That reached out
Into the small pond. The heron
Stood still, waiting for
The bread she held in
Her hand. They’ve done this before.
Bread dropped and floated on
The water bobbing
Before he quickly scooped it up
With his long bill.
The man at the top of
The hill laughed in delight but
Halted at her upright
Hand. “He doesn’t know
You. Stay there. “ She climbed back up
The slope to stand and
Watch the heron as
He finished his treat.
Envious geese muttered
And flapped their wings.
The man is quiet
and waits for the heron to
Fly away. The cherry trees drip
And the rain softly
Falls around them.
“No wonder this seems like home
To me.” He whispered.
“I could be happy
In such a small grove of trees
With a pond nearby.
There was a place like this,
Near our home.”
He held out his hand,
solemnly watching the rain
create a tiny pond in the palm of his hand.
“寒雨 Kanu.” He whispered. (cold winter rain)
She smiled at him.
He walked her back to
Her office, holding the
Umbrella carefully over her.
“I want to come here again”
He whispered.
“Then we shall.”
She bowed deeply to him.
“おかえり Okaeri” (welcome home)
He bowed in return.
“ただいま Tadaima.” (I’m home).
Dec 11, 2014 @ 07:29:01
Kanzen, this is wonderful. It’s a sweeping lens following these two tracking their quiet and gentle ways. Not in a Peeping Tom or Big Brother way, but as a filmmaker might capture a scene. Tender and moving. ❤
Dec 11, 2014 @ 07:34:03
♡♡♡ it is a very special friendship and those walks helped us both to survive.
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Dec 11, 2014 @ 13:42:30
I got that. I’m talking about your writing. ⭐
Dec 11, 2014 @ 13:49:51
Ah. No, I’m the great copyright goddess of my own works. Specious and wouldn’t stop an an’t from stealing, but hopefuly, it would make people conscious of rights because they just.don’t.think.
Dec 11, 2014 @ 14:21:11
We can always hope. Educating everyone should help. Sigh.
Dec 11, 2014 @ 14:33:20
Some people are clueless, others just don’t care.
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Dec 11, 2014 @ 20:38:17
Stop. Listen! ❤ ❤
Dec 11, 2014 @ 08:56:54
This is a lovely poem. We have a couple of herons on our lake. They are so much fun to watch. Such stealthy creatures.
Dec 11, 2014 @ 09:31:47
And when they get to know you, they can be rather mischievous! I’m glad you liked this. Thank you.
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Dec 14, 2014 @ 19:17:00
Elegant and moving, Kanzen….’tis choreography, really, of the lovely images you evoke. Thank you for the beauty and heart. xo
Dec 14, 2014 @ 19:25:31
From such a talented dancer and beautiful writer, your words mean much. Thank you. ♡♡♡
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Dec 20, 2014 @ 01:43:16
Those words, ‘okaeri’ and ‘tadaima,’ certainly have a poignant meaning, especially since this is the greeting my wife and I use when she gets home. Perfect, perfect ending.
Dec 20, 2014 @ 11:38:16
I am so glad you like. The gentleman became a good friend…a displaced engineer from the Fukushima plant. And like you, big in Japan! He is almost 6 ft tall. There’s more in this series. We walked almost every Friday for two years before his corporation transferred him to NC.
Jan 11, 2015 @ 18:32:01
I’m always surprised how much companies move their employees here. They’re just as transient as us expatriates. “Shoganai,” as they say.
Jan 11, 2015 @ 18:46:35
And he was moved, yet again this past fall. I miss him.
Jan 11, 2015 @ 21:02:51
so very good to hear your voice. I hope things are well. As a rule, I have found engineers in general to go from project to project, making transients of themselves. Thankfully my friend is just a state away. He enjoys where he is now but we do miss our walks.
Jan 12, 2015 @ 00:18:36
He’s lucky to have had them. 😉
Jan 12, 2015 @ 00:45:22
I was the lucky. He brought back a wonderful time in my life, but also a painful.
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