breathe again

Sophie took up the tale, trying to diffuse the bitterness that mingled with the chanting like the smell of burnt green tea.

"But that is where I met your father, Kit. your grandfather, Amy. Kenji was Nisei. He understood. He was not scattered like the four winds. He stayed with the family--even after his father died in Tule Lake, his brother in **battle.

And my husband, your grandfather, stayed on the land, tilling it after your great-grandfather could no longer stand. Even then, in the evenings, they would bring out the willow drum and chant until the sound was no longer distinguishable from the stars.

The voices of the Issei came throughout the war years. I heard them most nights. Most of them have stayed on, you know. They are still intertwined with the memories of the dead."

waves hunch / and crest / in empty air / strike madly on / the shore forever / churn spray / retreat to / breathe again

the word is / the sound / of water / dripping from/ ancient symbols / tiny particles / of merging / realities


Follow us all: Amy/Anna, Sophie/Yuki, Kit/Richard, minor characters or sift through water leavings and river journeys.