Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


O-TSUYA FORSAKEN by CALE YOUNG RICE

First Line: I FOLLOWED. IN THE TEA-HOUSE GEISHA DANCED THE DEATH
Last Line: SHALL HE BE MINE IN NO REINCARNATION?
Subject(s): DEATH; JAPAN; LOVE; LOYALTY; STARS; DEAD, THE; JAPANESE;

My @3geta@1 clacked. A paper lantern moved, led by a hand,
before me. The wind moaned. A wet pine struck my face.
It seemed as if I heard the river rushing o'er me.

I followed. In the tea-house Geisha danced @3The Death of Spring@1. Their
shadows fell like petals on the @3shoji@1...
I felt a creeping mist about me cling.

The bridge was darkly arched. Midway the lantern waited.
Pale as the hidden moon the hand was! ... his! ...
She came! ... Will the gods ever know how much I hated?

They went... up through the @3torii@1, by a shrine.
Upon the lantern @3Amida@1 I read.... No more shall Amida be god of mine!

It is not far to the river -- down to death. The stars swirled -- a
conflagration.... And yet I could not go. --
Shall he be mine in no reincarnation?



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