Spare the Air

This heat siege calls for an economy of words and of images. Make yourself some iced tea from these lean nuggets, all from Japanese women—and don't forget the fresh mint.

In a summer meadow
blossoming in a thicket
the red starlily:
this unrevealed love
such a painful thing!
—Lady Otomo of Sakanoe

I hug a stone
burnt in a fire—
a dream of autumn.
—Kanajo Hasegawa

in the summer field
that person with deep feelings
and a sober face
—Sonojo

the moon and I
alone are left here
cooling on the bridge
—Kikusha

In spirit and in truth
silent prayer...just
the moon on the road
—Kikusha

______________________

Be cool.

—Medusa (who swelters)