arrive at the same time, speak again of colors
surprised I remembered she had worn the color of life
now in autumnal restraint, such a serene sight
so pleased neither made the other wait
toss tidbits of who we are, as if feeding gulls at wharf
assembling each other from crumbs of nan
curry comes; she savours first taste in silent orgasm
curious areas of convergence; her mother and I had alopecia
I smile at image of mom clunking miles to school
in wooden clogs, leaning into brisk Brittany breeze
has to rush to acupuncture; walk her as far as Meiji Jingu
trying to avoid Takeshita Dori but all roads lead us back
window shop at Birkenstock's; "No, you'll have to do better
than that before I buy you." thought you were talking to me
detour through peaceful alley we want to find again on purpose
sticks her head into posh cafe; may not need her ear plugs
knows short cut to Yoyogi between Yamanote tracks
and sacred forest; tells me story about the woods
guests at Emperor Meiji's wedding brought trees that came
to make up the forest; her tone uncertain; I want to believe
pause to picture hordes carrying trees on their backs;
I tell her about the oak I'm growing in my office
from an acorn found in the forest; tell how I was told
to return it someday; she thinks I'll be arrested
arriving at the forest edge, we say our good-byes
stays in place as I turn to go; I'm forced to double take
tableau vivant in filtered sunlight slipping
from canopy through layers of time and mind
picture her with dark circles along her spine
from cups that suck poison; medals she'll wear for a month
vertebrae are the stones we'll walk along through irises
in Meiji Jingu Gyoen; the dark circles, the ponds
© 2004 Joseph Dias