Sea of Trees

(for Aokigahara ... the souls lost) ~ jade canopy waving while it whispers the lush secret, compelled delicious word of myriad words casting shadowed merriment at a woven briar carpet colored strings, winding... waiting tangled labyrinth, so deep and dark that dew still clings at mid-day, leafy tresses tickling azure, sopping sun like thirst - bright and warm above straight trunks like steady soldiers fingery tendrils burrow deep to find purchase - ruddy earth, cool as rime, rich with rooty rot - nature's marrow to breathe the branches Fuji's frilly garden skirt listen, tender... soft now, the hush of mys'tries - this forest bides all, yet stars still glisten its black heart - desire, a mossy coat ... dour... waiting hear the voice, low, the breath of breaths, murmuring - it begs, come... in a thousand gentle lullabies, with the language of the ages and the ends - voice sweet as death it calls to the misty meandering, one dire dalliance - grandest adventure of all - the dazzling dream that never wakes. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Your 2021 N/A Choice 2" Poetry Contest, William Kekaula, Judge & Sponsor.