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Above the light on the gleaned rice ears

The bellies of mating dragonflies glow, translucent

A traveler on the wind of an ephemeral season

Drifts away, heedless, at the sign of twilight

Gently waving a hand to the young brothers 

…… The feet of darkness are swift

Between the gaps of the night horse’s mane, where legs falter

A silent gaze glistens, drenched

Because I had survived that

I whispered it like a password

The survivors from that day forward 

Were not wise

Only spared 

Knowing this fact

My brother held his tongue

Even that was flood control

Everyone was silent and not careless

Thus, that certain day

Faded away with a quiet rustle

Remembered poorly in the younger brother’s heart

As just another day at the turning of the season

ii

The chamber music of goodbyes

Lingers faintly   never fading

Along the hallway, where exchanged prayers 

And their remnants have gathered

I shuffle forward

Carrying unfulfilled promises

In heavy bundles, like sheaves of rice

With a long, long goodbye

I tie a noshi around our modest life

At the very end   their face lit up all at once

I knew they had truly awaited

As I held their hand

For a moment, a wave of emotion surged through me

But as I overheard some close

Murmuring about the expression they wore in death

While sweeping the floor

I made a decision

The feelings in my palm

I would carry it with me all the way to the grave

Even now, I don’t like

Anyone seeing me sleep