‘The Stillness of Death’ from “The Nightingale’s Song”….

A few poet/writer friends have asked me to post more of this series. I’m still workikng on it, preparing for the collaboration in the fall with Nick Nicholson who is doing the graphics. So, I learn from other people, especially poets, who read and am glad to oblige. Posted especially for Alee.

Lady Nyo

THE STILLNESS OF DEATH

“My heart, like my clothing
Is saturated with your fragrance.
Your vows of fidelity
Were made to our pillow and not to me.”
—-12th century

Kneeling before her tea
Lady Nyo did not move.
She barely breathed-
Tomorrow depended
Upon her action today.

Lord Nyo was drunk again.
When in his cups
The household scattered.
Beneath the kitchen
Was the crawl space
Where three servants
Where hiding.
A fourth wore an iron pot.

Lord Nyo was known
For three things:
Archery-
Temper-
And drink.

Tonight he strung
His seven foot bow,
Donned his quiver
High on his back.
He looked at the pale face
Of his aging wife,
His eyes blurry, unfocused.
He remembered the first time
pillowing her.

She was fifteen.
Her body powdered petals,
Bones like butter,
Black hair like trailing bo silk.
The blush of shy passion
Had coursed through veins
Like a tinted stream.

Still beautiful
Now too fragile for his taste.
Better a plump whore,
Than this delicate, saddened beauty.

He drew back the bow
In quick succession
Let five arrows pierce
The shoji.
Each grazed the shell ear
Of his wife.

Life hung on her stillness.
She willed herself dead.
Death after all these years
Would have been welcome.

Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted , 2013

Tags: "The Stillness of Death", 'The Nightingale's Song', 17 century Japan, fiction, Jane Kohut-Bartels, Lady Nyo, Poets, series of 14 poems