Exhale Slowly


After the foot departs in their
Search for meaning and
A good woman done wrong,
The earth moves and five minutes

Ago rain tapped out. Today’s lesson
Is humility. Up to down, right to left,
I follow. What is the color 
Of love or a shadow’s weight?

Above the sky or below the waves,
Some days pain drags behind me
No matter what. Exhale slowly that long
Tunnel ribbed in silence.

In keeping with my intent to create something small every day and to resurrect my poetry practice, I plan to publish on this site one of my poems every few days. I won’t do it every day because I don’t want to inundate your in-box! Plus, I will no doubt skip a day or so during this effort.

This Cento was created from the first 10 poems in Robert Okaji’s beautiful book, In the Garden of Wind’s Delight. The poems and the hand-made book itself are extraordinary and I am enjoying every reread of every poem enclosed. I plan to create another Cento from the remaining poems so keep an eye on this page.

Thank you, Bob, for your talent and your friendship. Sending love to Stephanie, too.

Bob’s book can be purchased from Illuminated Press.

Lines were borrowed from the following poems in the order that they appeared in the book:

1. Remembering the Blade-Shape
2. Waiting for the Shakuhachi, I Practice with What I Have
3. Shakuhachi Blues
4. Door Haibun
5. Bamboo Flute
6. Notation
7. The Shakuhachi Knows
8. Ro
9. Emptying Haibun
10. Morning Suizen