Dennis Spilchuk Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

Morning, and the fishers put out to sea
with joy and farewells to their families,
unaware that today they would meet with fate
and fight for their lives against a rogue wave.

“Bend your backs to the wind, row and repel,
vain Kanagawa; reprieve yourselves!”
 spewed, in a boast, the Kami Tsunami
amid the background of Mount Fuji.

Fear seized their hearts, and terror blazed in their eyes;
their hands bled, and their muscles groaned in agony.
They who boldly bragged were cowards in the throes
as the boats were tossed on the vast ocean.

Frothed with rage, the tempest would not relent,
incensed that they take, without recompense,
the bounty of its trove with gluttony,
as if deemed chosen to exploit it with greed.

The challenge met and defeat imminent;
victory, though sweet, claims countless victims.
In disbelief, they maintained their postures
as the wave splinters the wooden structures.

The end is near. “All is lost!” or so they thought;
on their knees, one by one, they made peace with God.
And in this, their last hour, they in despair
prayed that the storm abate and so were spared.
				        ***
			
Note:
   Although the wave in Katsushika Hokusai’s (1760–1849) woodblock print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (circa 1826/33) is often portrayed and described as a tsunami, it’s debatable whether it was the way in which Hokusai meant it to be interpreted. The waves in his famous work of art can be referred to as “okinami” (great offshore waves).

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment