Caught you-
White hair
Now black,
Your fingers
Blunt-ended,
Fangs but
Dull blades-
A man like
Any other:
Senses dead
In the dark.
Wordlessly
She smiled,
Taking your
Clumsy
Mortal hand
In hers,
Leading you
Through the
Frog-song night
To her home
In silent
Invitation.
She gave
You tea,
Genmai-cha,
The rice
Of the old year,
Mingled
With the first
Green buds
Of the new-
A gift
From a
Passing lord.
Nervous,
You drank
By the fire,
Watching
Her prepare
Dainties
Arranged
As flowers
On little plates,
Offering them
To you
In mute feast.
Mother
Did this
When you
Were small-
Closing all
Doors and
Windows
Against
The new moon-
Secret safe,
She fed you
Sweets.
Kikyo poured
Sake,
Sipping from
The small cup,
Before offering
It to you;
Turning the rim
Where her lips
Touched
Toward you…
(Blushing,
You accepted.)
Sweetness
Of sake
Upon your lips,
You risked
A kiss from
Your human heart-
Rooster crowed,
Hair now white-
Was that the
Ghost
Of mother's regret
In Kikyo's eyes?