Sushi Dreams
by Mark Tulin
The yellow sun
shines through
the porthole
of a tiny sushi bar
where I eat a rainbow roll
and imagine
wooden boats,
off the coast of Yokohama
where salmon
is freshly caught
I am my country,
my herbs,
my baseball heroes,
and the temples
of Kyoto
My people are gracious,
humble Geishas
with trailing kimonos,
dance and sing
lighthearted songs
As I sip my tea,
I think of Issa,
the Japanese poet
from Kashiwabara
who wrote lovely tea haiku
and I can see his words,
the snowflakes
blooming from the sky,
falling from the mountains
and landing on my tongue.
by Mark Tulin
The yellow sun
shines through
the porthole
of a tiny sushi bar
where I eat a rainbow roll
and imagine
wooden boats,
off the coast of Yokohama
where salmon
is freshly caught
I am my country,
my herbs,
my baseball heroes,
and the temples
of Kyoto
My people are gracious,
humble Geishas
with trailing kimonos,
dance and sing
lighthearted songs
As I sip my tea,
I think of Issa,
the Japanese poet
from Kashiwabara
who wrote lovely tea haiku
and I can see his words,
the snowflakes
blooming from the sky,
falling from the mountains
and landing on my tongue.
Mark Tulin is a former psychotherapist from Philadelphia who lives in Palm Springs, California. A poetry publisher compared his work to artist Edward Hopper on how he grasps unusual aspects of people’s lives. Mark’s books include Magical Yogis, Awkward Grace, and The Asthmatic Kid and Other Stories, Junkyard Souls, Rain on Cabrillo. Mark has been featured in Ariel Chart, Amethyst Review, The Poetry Village, Crow’s Feet, Vita Brevis Press, Leaves of Ink, Weeds and Wildflowers, as well as anthologies and podcasts. Follow Mark at www.crowonthewire.com and Twitter: @Crow_writer
Use and/or duplication of any material on White Enso is strictly prohibited without express and written permission from the author and/or owner.