By Lorraine Riess.
The Empress of Haddam 2.0
For Izumi Shikibu, Japanese court poet 974-1034 A.D.
The Empress arises
with a haiku in mind,
raku teacup cradled in palms.
Her flannel kimono in well-worn folds
sweeps across the wooden floor.
Her thin and threadbare obi sash
is tied in a careless, double knot.
Her feet are snug and bound in fleece.
Her consort walks the Reservoir
his watch dog at his heel.
As the morning mist takes leave
winter fields fill with snow,
a blanket of ermine
too soft and pristine
to be marred by his return.
She hopes that he will stay away
while images and words align.
All is silent, clouds hang low,
the Empress considers a metaphor
while her tea grows cold.
Who is this immersed in reveries
assuming a regal guise?
Wanting him near or wishing him away,
parsing this paradox till the muse arrives,
she writes until the snow subsides.
Lorraine Riess is current poet laureate of Haddam and invites your submission in HK-Now for publication. You may email submissions to: lcfriess@att.net. All poetry should be no longer than 30 lines (one page). Include a short bio of 75 words or less. You will be notified by email if your work is selected. All work is copyrighted by the author.
Her collection of poems Still Life With Wings has been published and is available from her website or Amazon. The book contains a few poems that relate to Haddam and its history, as well as the environment and other topics.
