wide road of the exterior
Culture continues
in all corners of the globe
Summer showers’ song
1693
Maruyama keep
Yoshitsune’s long sword shines
in poor wretched place
Benkei’s lone defence
Summer grass remains today
Sepuku farewell
Back wood canopy
Over swollen river flows
Mogami boat ride
Teary eyed vista
Yudono’s vertical drop
words cannot describe
Matsuo Basho
Iga Ueno’s bright star
home of the ninja
Sixteen ninety four
masterpiece now completed
Basho leaves this earth
1693: scattered pieces and thoughts on the last year of Basho's life, walking 156 days through the interior of northern Japan.
Rolph David
Sun 19th Jan 2025 17:07
Hello Red Brick Keshner,
I truly enjoyed your poem "wide road of the exterior." The references to Japanese historical figures and cultural elements were fascinating, though I must admit, it wasn’t easy to piece together the stories behind them. The way you interwove figures like Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Basho, along with the references to seppuku and the landscapes of Japan, added a rich layer of depth to the piece. It’s clear that your work requires a thoughtful engagement with history and culture, which I really appreciated. Thank you for this evocative poem.
Regards,
Rolph