Happiness Returns
"'River of no return.'
All rivers flow and none return."
His sun-burnt face,
more lively with the local beer,
looks down on the water.
Our thirty-five years of no return
have streamed away to where?
"Mountains cry beckoning me."
His wrinkled eyes recognize
each mountain's face.
His boylike voice calls
each one's name.
In his shiny pupils
mountains reflect thick green.
"Ware wa umi no ko sasurai no ..."
His wrinkled eyes recognize
Our wandering minds drift
with the lyric
above rippling Lake Biwa.
The melody quiver
the tall grass
on the sand shore.
"This feeling is so good
under my trekking shoes."
His voice bounces,
stepping on the dry fallen leaves.
The breeze blows through our shirts
before treading the path again.
"'A full life.' I like this English ..."
The poet recites his new poem
clasping close a bottle of sake.
Packed by nature, friends, and sake,
his brewage has returned with full taste.
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