Michael Coy Poet Rhyme

The Wind In the Pines 6

6.   Matsukaze 

("Noh" is an ancient Japanese style of 
drama, broadly similar to Elizabethan
tragedy.  "The Wind in the Pines" is
my version of a well-known Noh play.)

Despite 
the vigil I kept, night on night ... 
despite 
my spring purification rite ... 
paper streamers like fronds of willow, 
tears soaking into my pillow, 
you did not come. 

Madness touched me. 
Like the spume of a wave 
that boils and fizzes, 
in my pain I raved. 
Love returns like the ruthless tide, 
like the air perspires in the hot night, 
and leaves beads of water on morning grass 
to mark its sweating. 
The agonies pass, 
but there's no forgetting. 

Waiting at the gazing tree, 
I look out on the restless sea ... 
is that he? Coming to me? 
Cut the succulent leaf of aloe vera, 
and it weeps clear healing tears. 
I am restored. Here's Yukihira. 
See how his ship skips as it nears! 
I deceive myself. 
Am I blind? 
It was the wind, 
teasing a pine. 

Exquisite, his calligraphy. 
He painted a poem, just for me. 
"Now I have gone. 
Left you behind. 
But if you pine, 
I'll come at a run." 

I am nothing now. I am a sad pine, 
doubled over by prevailing winds. 
Like salt, I dissolve in the brine. 
Nature's madness, love, is a storm, 
but it can't last. The sky grows warm 
with purple streaks, braided on magenta. 
I am held fast, because I have sinned. 
Where I go now, none may enter. 
Autumn rain will come. Mark the signs. 
And listen for the wind, sighing in the pines.

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Darren White March 13, 2017 at 8:09 AM I need to fav a few of your poems. Too many actually, so I will start with the whole of the series first :) Darren White March 13, 2017 at 12:52 PM No hay de qué ;) Michael Coy March 13, 2017 at 11:19 AM Muchisimas gracias!

Darren White March 10, 2017 at 10:04 AM Shame the play is over! I thoroughly enjoyed this series :) Michael Coy March 10, 2017 at 1:49 PM Thank you, Darren!

Darren White March 10, 2017 at 7:23 AM "Now I have gone. // Left you behind. // But if you pine, // I'll come at a run."// That's cruel isn't it? I feel for them because I feel this pain myself. I am sorry for often being personal in my comments, I can't help it, it's how I am. But I honestly can feel this pain. It also means you've done so well. The atmosphere of this one (is it the last one?) is so very different, grief and mourning, very tangible. Darren White March 10, 2017 at 8:44 AM Ok, good, was afraid that would put you off :) Michael Coy March 10, 2017 at 7:59 AM Yes, it's the last one - and please don't apologise. The personal details are utterly welcome ... they are emanations of your intelligence and sensitivity. Thank you, my friend!