Combing
Your son's hair
You kneel,
Kimono
Blossoming
About you;
Spring rain
Falls
In the garden-
Striking
Slow circles
In the koi pond,
Rendering
Spring flowers
As watercolors.

His father's
Hair was
Silver-white…
Floating in
The wind,
Rarely bound.
Defying
Tradition,
You let
His son's
Drift loose,
Ignoring the
Disapproving
Stares
Of others.

Your small
Son dozes,
His head
In your lap,
Thumb in
Mouth
Amber eyes
Tight shut,
Hands relaxed-
Pearly claws
Gleam softly
In stormlight,
Lightning
Dances
In the hills.

You
Pause,
Comb
Raised-
His father's
Hands…
…
…
Thunder
Overhead-
Your son
Whimpers
Clinging
To you
In his sleep.

You drop
The comb,
Gathering him
In your arms,
Face buried
In his
Strange hair-
Rain striking
Hard
Circles in
The koi pond,
Remembering
His father's hair,
His hands
Upon your body.