like a splash of sunshine
from behind clouds of murky water.
The golden-orange flash
dances though the pond
in and out of branches
trailing at the pond’s edge
playing in the reflection of the moon.
Until, conceding defeat,
he sinks back,
all the brightness swallowed
again in the gloom of the water.
No treats have been set out for him
tonight. There is only the flicker
of floating candles lighting the way back
for those who swim
in far darker places
than the gilded king of the pond.
Photo I took of an obon observance I went to
at Shofuso (The Japanese house and garden in Philadelphia) over the weekend.
Liner Notes for This Groove: This poem was created for the Weekly Scribblings prompt at Poets and Storytellers United, Pay Attention
That is GORGEOUS! And you totally aced the prompt.
ReplyDeleteWoot! Thank you.
DeleteNice juxtaposition of the koi swimming to the food of light and the worshippers, their candles, swimming away from them with their wishes
ReplyDeleteGood Wednesday
Much❤love
Happy Wednesday to you too
DeleteWould like to sit beside this pond :)
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely, despite the mosquitoes which I didn't mention. Otherwise the poem would have had a lot more cussing. :D
DeleteLove that you chose the koi as star of the poem … beautiful write!
ReplyDeleteI love to watch them whenever I visit Shofuso. It had been a long time since I'd been there last.
DeleteSo much beauty in this one, Rommy! Especially the first stanza, I kept on reading and rereading it... seeing and hearing the sunny splash.
ReplyDeleteIt was beautiful to watch them swim in person. I completely ignored the mosquito bites until much, much later. :D
Delete"...those who swim in far darker places..." is quite spooky! You showed just what it's like to see a koi appear.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Just what I was going for.
Delete"in and out of branches
ReplyDeletetrailing at the pond’s edge
playing in the reflection of the moon."
i really liked that image, i could the moonlit ripples of the water. well done
Thanks Phillip
Deletei like how you describe the flicker of candles lighting the way back for "for those who swim in far darker places". yes, the ancestors' spirits have to leave after visiting their families in this world.
ReplyDeletei didn't know Obon is observed in the US, or is it in certain cities only where there is a Japanese community?
I know that with Philadelphia, there's an active Japanese society that puts together these things. I'm not sure about other cities though. I suspect San Francisco and New York might have similar sorts of observances.
DeleteVisiting again this pond, love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you again!
DeleteYour poem renders a beautiful and cosy ambiance. The juxtaposition is brilliant, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm glad I could capture how it felt to be there, sans the mosquitoes of course.
DeleteLike the trail of a golden mother lode!
ReplyDeleteIt's quite lovely to watch them swim
Deletecandlefish
ReplyDeleteOnly if they got too close to the lanterns
Delete"The gilded king of the pond" describes the koi wonderfully, and you've described his world so well in your poem. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bev!
Delete"the gilded king" I see I'm not the only one who enjoyed that combination of words! I'm sitting on the edge of this pond, enjoying the night enfolding!
ReplyDeleteI think it's definitely how the koi sees himself.
DeleteStunning.
ReplyDeleteI especially like this section:
“tonight. There is only the flicker
of floating candles lighting the way back”
Thank you. The time spent there was the perfect inspiration.
DeleteThis poetry gives me a feeling of peace. Quiet. Softness.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad.
DeleteWow, this is a great write! Love it! Big Hugs!
ReplyDelete