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Open Poetry #47
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Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan

0 posted 2011-05-03 12:17 PM


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Nineteen nineteen

Lit by crimson lanterns—
Two geishas


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© Copyright 2011 John Pawlik - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2011-05-03 10:11 PM


The history of the Geisha
is either marveled at
or wept of
by women of the
western world.

Your touch upon the time
is classic.

Thank you, friend.


Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan
2 posted 2011-05-03 10:14 PM


.


Thank you

This was intentionally a very Japanese poem for me
The first line is an allusion to:


how long forever
nineteen nineteen
of white dancers


       Anonymous Japanese

which has its own history of interpretation.
(White refers to the make-up worn.  Nineteen was then considered
the age at which a woman was at the height of her beauty).

The first line also can be simply read as the ages of the girls
or a year.  The second line suggests a pleasure district
And the third line is obvious.  The title in its connotations
is again very Japanese.


Thanks again


John


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