Japanese poetry

wind and sea—
the leaves we leave
for other generations
 
little by little—
the leaves line up
to be lifted by the wind
 
pure sky—
awakened to sound
of single leaf
 
trees and skies—
the generations grow
from leaf to leaf
 
running in the wind—
searching for “self”
in the veins of time
 
water and life—
a drop in the moon’s
midnight reflection
 
moon and sea—
the life force of Earth’s
wandering expression
 
step-by-step
across the plots

 
I.
 
Upon the hills
The air was dry
And dead trees hung
Beneath the sky
 
As cold wind blew
The snowflakes fell—
A frozen kiss
From icy hell
 
The boy was young
Of thirteen years
His father weak
And full of fears
 
The trail grew bleak,
They couldn’t see
And as it snowed
The boy did plea
 
“My father, now
The path is nigh
Without some warmth
We’re soon to die”
 
“My son, Noël,
Let’s shelter take
Within that shed
By Frozen Lake”