Japanese Epiphanies

      Japanese Epiphanies

Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

Sardines have sunlight shining their eyes

And, from the scales along their sides, the light

Is light as from divinity.  Each dries

Here hanging in the shop as if in flight

There in the morning air.  Along the way

Red beans are almost glowing in their bowls,

A red so warm the basins each display

The heart of Buddha there with sacred souls

Of nuns inside each pulse.  Purple plums lie

In wicker baskets, skins vermilion blushed

As if immortal dragons had an eye

To hold them in their long-tongued mouths uncrushed.

..An ordinary day with nothing odd

….Along its streets involves an inkling god.

Phillip Whidden