REBIRTH
The Opened Kimono
A heart’s perspective
The kimono is a T-shaped, wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. Wikipedia
She moistens my lips with tears – 末期の水, water of the last moment. We allow my spirit to die.
She places a candle beside my dry-iced bed.
Right side of my white kimono over left, I await
my kaimyō, my new name (so my ghost may rest)
and the chopsticks’ caress picking the bones once imprisoning me from lukewarm ash –
one last spark
prompting her to blow until my kimono opens, changing direction in flame’s newborn wind.
©Jenine Bsharah Baines 2022
2022…and my heart is reborn.
Resurrected from deathblows of 2021’s sorrows.
When Adelia Ritchie kindly invited me to join the team at The Open Kimono, I found myself intrigued by kimonos. Did a bit of research and this poem, my first of 2022, birthed itself. Muse as midwife.
Thank you, Adelia and Shadowgnosis, for the opportunity and challenge. Yes, challenge. Poems must be 75 words — no more, no less. But the Muse and I did it!
Thank you, dearest readers. May 2022 unfold happiness, bliss, blessedness, and satisfaction.
幸福
Love.
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