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Onsen (Mineral Spring on Nara Road )

Onsen (Mineral Spring on Nara Road)
Steam lit by Shikoku’s spill of stars
chin immersed below sulfured nostrils
haunted by an ill-considered trade
of land and tools for glory,
the tatami-makers’ son
calculates the cost
of a bitter final blend.
A bamboo cylinder
like tarnished gold,
captures a moment’s splashing rill.
The pool of koi it tips to fill
and with martial obedience
straightens to a vertical stance.
Fins and tails flutter to greet each spill
and fall back
      a tumble of antique coins,
short the price of the necromancer's purse.
Water driven salutes
ring bamboo warnings
on Buddha's shallow begging bowl.  
Respiration set slow
to shishi odoshi rhythms.
A blade folded in cotton.
Image result for shishi odoshi
(shishi odoshi = a bamboo water device to make noise to scare deer from gardens)


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