Written for Dora, the host for poetics at dVerse this week.
I stayed up yearning through the night.
giving prominence to your charms
the way your steps remind that you
are used to war and tangibles
Do not treat me lightly, I pleaded
the night you were late, when they exiled
you and threw us into a dreamscape
now the timorous morning glory
that never blooms conspicuously
will provide a reminder of the
disparate chimera that is love.
The origami that is that road
I'll fold and burn it, I need you back.
© selma
Pub closing time is 3 PM (EST) on Thursday. Phew, nine hours from now;
I’ll be nursing my cold and sleeping away my headache. Thanks, dearly.
“O for a heavenly fire!
I would reel in
The distant road you travel,
Fold it up,
And burn it to ashes.”
~ The Daughter of Sano Otogami wrote one of the most famous
love poems in the Man’yōshū.
She was a female official who served in the Bureau of Rites, whose
precincts were forbidden to men. She had a secret affair with a
minister named Nakatomi Yakamori. Their affair was discovered
and he was sent into exile as punishment.
Photos from pages of the Man’yōshū, borrowed from the library.
Photos by selma.
I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.
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Powerful
Happy you saw it that way. Thanks
What a delightful poem, Selma, and such a poignant story behind it! These lines are so expressive and put it in context:
‘the way your steps remind that you
are used to war and tangibles’
and
‘The origami that is that road
I’ll fold and burn it, I need you back.’
Thanks for your gracious comment dear Kim. Glad you enjoyed it and the back story. Xo
Beautifully written Selma. Love your closing lines.
Aww. Thanks so dearly. Blessings.
Most welcome my friend
Wow! Well done
Thanks so very much for reading VJ. I appreciate you.
My pleasure, Selma
This is beautifully done, Selma.
Music to my ears. Thanks dearly.
You speak to and delight my poetic heart!
Nothing gives me more pleasure Annette. Thanks for being here. Xo
So beautiful. ❤️
Aww. Thanks.
💖 xx
What a feast of poetry, history, biography, this post is, Selma!! For a while I just soaked in it, seeing in my mind’s petunias, burning origami, hearing soldiers in the night, an exiled love, and especially this line that to me brings into clear focus the pain of longing, a concrete expression of how a lover remembers those things that others pass over:
“the way your steps remind that you
are used to war and tangibles” — So real, so good.
Anonymous is me, Dora — Don’t even ask me why WP failed to log me in. It’s giving me fits these days!
And so you are! Thanks for clarifying dear Dora. You rock
Thanks for appreciating dearest Dora. Wink. Yes, WP gets iffy sometimes. Thanks for the prompt.
💖🤗
Moving and beautifully expressed, Selma.
Si pleased you liked it. Xoo
I loved the history lesson, Selma. Always fascinated by the past. Your piece was delightful. 💜🙏
Thanks Nigel. Glad this one added some value. Xo
You’re welcome Selma. ,🙏🤗
A lovely poem.
Thanks, Diana. Be well
You too.
Feel better Selma. I like that origami image. (K)
Thank you so much dear K.
Fascinating!
Glad to know you feel this way. Xo
I am haunted by your final stanza – origami will never be the same
😉 sorry about that. 🦢 🔥 The Man’Yoshu is an amazing old book.