Letter to Carolyn on the Other Side of the World
Carolyn, there's been no change.
The weather's still the same--
a day of warmth, and then dark wind...
You know. Winter's coming; soon
there will be snow-will cold storms come
to your island of rock and bone? I know
the cherry trees are bare. I'm stripped
down myself, sister-friend--you'd know
me now; I'm back to how we met.
You've got a husband--how's the baby?--
but the same old fires are burning
me out. Remember that boy? Me neither.
But I remember how I felt. Don't worry;
I'm doing the dead man's float. And you?
Are you drowning in alien words?
Do the mountains reach for you at night?
Don't be afraid. The gods of your new
country are--not kind, but they know
the value of something bright. Please
recommend me--buy a fortune or a charm.
I need a talisman of some sort. Sayonara--
Know what that means? If so, let it be so.