Your flame flickers briefly—
a parting whisper.
Some trick of the river
mimics your laughter.
We stand apart at sunset,
lost in natsukashii,
come together in darkness,
to watch the dead pass on.
Your light has fallen now
to shadow
beneath the bridge.
Ryan Stone
First published on Napalm and Novocain, January 2016
Published at Poetry Nook, October 2018, Nominated for 2018 Pushcart Prize
Oh, this is gorgeous!! ❤ Is it also your painting? I just love the painting! I wish I could have it on my wall!!
Lovely poem Ryan and I too love the painting. Love your whole website by the way. Great style.
Guiding the spirits to the other world, while lanterns flow in the river wishing the departed a safe voyage.
A beautiful poem that has mixed the culture with the feelings of loss.
P.S. you should do some more reading now that you have some time in your hand. 🙂
Now when and why did I miss this last year? Superlative! And yes, that word!!!
Keep at it, Ryan!
Beautiful poem, Ryan. I agree with you about languages. I once wrote a poem and couldn’t find an English word to describe the intensity of the color and had to use a Greek word. Your digital painting is gorgeous.
Your image is great on its own, but more so when viewed with your words.
This reminds us that even when we lose a connection, we always have an attachment.
Natsukaashi. Thank you so much for introducing that word to me!!! ♥️♥️ Beautiful writing, as always.
A suitably honourable poem to match your painting of an ancient time-honoured custom, Ryan …
Beautiful, I love that you integrate different words into your poems. Nastukashii, the only reason I know that word is from watching Japanese anime for most of my life (haha)!
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