A 2009 SUNY Potsdam Graduate, Erin majored in Creative Writing and minored in Asian Studies. Currently, she is teaching English in South Korea.
Kwantung
The mushi1 struggles
to escape Imperial
obi2. How foolish,
the wind rustles a
maple and a Night Hawk3, who
is choking on a
water sleeve4, colored
a deep shade of burgundy.
Into her ear the
mushi crawled and felt
the vibrations of panic,
lulled to peaceful sleep.
A sokai5 boy lies
in wait for Momotaro6
to bring him back home
and celebrate his
victory with honami,7
sakura8 petals
falling like raindrops
on the Emperor’s Palace
in the midsummer day.
The mushi crawls out
from hibernation to glimpse
at a bright future.
1. Mushi - Pronounced Moo-shee. Japanese for insect.
2. Obi - Pronunced Oh-bee. The sash on a formal Japanese robe called a Kimono.
3. Night Hawk - Term for middle age Japanese prostitutes who conducted their services at night on the streets in 19th century Japan.
4. Water Sleeve - an elongated sleeve used to emphasize movement in Han Chinese traditional dancing.
5. Sokai - Pronounced So-kah-ee. Japanese schoolboys who were sent out to the country so they would be safe from air raids in the cities during wartime Japan in early 20th century.
6. Momotaro - Pronounced Moh-moh-tah-roh. A folk story character turned into an animation, who was a small boy with a strong sense of independence and patriotism, promoted nationalism during wartime Japan.
7. Honami - Pronounced Hoh-nah-mee. Cherry blossom viewing. In Early springtime, the cherry blossom trees are in bloom and the petals of the flowers are falling.
8. Sakura - Pronounced Sah-koo-rah. Japanese for cherry blossom.
