Nurikabe
Traveling by night, to regain the tribe.
Infinite, invisible walls
misdirect
impede
impossible to skirt.
Our friend,
from our tents, we sense
your distress
We long for you to fill the empty place.
We pray your nurikabe
materialise
so your eyes
may know them.
We pray strength for you
to demolish the walls.
We will lend ours.
Strike the lower part.
Destroy nurikabe.
If stubborn
go around.
Our prayers will ensure
they no longer extend forever.
Journey on
toward the light
towards the morning.
Follow your heart.
Find the tribe.
Laura and I agreed to post our Nurikabe poems simultaneously, without
knowing what the other person had written. Nurikabe are invisible, infinitely
extending walls in Japanese folklore which impede and obstruct travelers
by night. We’re all traveling in the dark meeting invisible walls, so it felt
like a good one to have a go at.
Deborah Jordan Bailey
Mon 7th Nov 2011 13:39
love this one Dave, beautifully expressed and written and so very relevant to me on a personal note right now, the day you posted it especially.that's what good art does though,offers you something in harmony with the artist...i feel this one comes from a different place from many of your other poems and I think, for me,it's one of your best.I've never heard of the nurikabe but they materialised for me that night you posted this, and i'll know them next time I see them..but nothing will stop me searching for that tribe.. thanks for this today,am glad i called by, Deb xx