Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Dean Okamura



The Fall in Gomorrah


The evil darkness in our land, 

    Took its right place - 

In the center of the stage. 

 

For until its ascendancy, 

    We thought the best in us - 

Would rise up and contend for good. 

 

A society at the height of prosperity. 

    Yet the dwellers despised and denied 

Compassion to the foreigners among us.

 

It only takes 

    A Raging King 

To seal 

The deal. 


 

Maiden of the falls

Among the Japanese woodblock prints, 
I came upon a familiar scene. 
 
Three-tiered pagoda, 
green rolling mountain slopes, 
tall streaming waterfall - 
brought back memories of Nachi Falls. 
 
Then the print’s shades revealed a ghostly figure - 
setting itself apart from the harmony of nature. 
 
At the foot of the falls, 
a tortured maiden 
breaks out of the mist. 
 
The ruffles of her twisted pale white gown, 
flapping shredded sleeves, moving wildly in the breeze. 
 
I could say how the tragic events of the previous week, 
colored my own memories of Nachi Falls. 
 
But memories often serve cruel masters. 
They become distorted to meet their insane demands. 
 
Or, are they like the tortured maiden? 
Just an online watermark of no regard. 
 

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