Child Dancing With Chrysanthemum Branch
American girl
forty-seven years ago
learning of Japan
~Ornery Owl Waxes Nostalgic~
Image by Hitesh Choudhary from Pixabay
notes and prompt link
Ekphrastic prompt with a selection of images to choose from.
The image of the child dancing with chrysanthemums reminded me of being in fourth grade and studying Japan. This is where I learned my love of Haiku. My poem is not a Haiku but a Senryu. Anyway, that's my understanding of the matter.
During our Japan studies, we went to a restaurant in downtown Denver called the Fuji En. Unfortunately, it closed many years ago. This was a real adventure for our class. The teachers wisely divided us into groups of six, each with an adult chaperone. We sat on the floor at our little table. My friend Kenny crawled under the table and popped out the other side.
Kenny was the class clown. He was a lovable goofball. Some pranksters have a mean sense of humor. Kenny didn't. He was kind to everyone. I wonder where he is now. I hope he's had a wonderful life.
There's a ghost of a ten-year-old girl who became a woman long ago enjoying lunch every day in a restaurant that has been closed for decades. Part of me wishes I could be in that happy moment forever. My childhood was more stressful than joyful most of the time. I'm usually stoic and snarky, but remembering this day has me shedding a few nostalgic tears. This time of year affects me that way.
Have some holiday music.
