Arashi in blue.
I wrapped this by hand,
with sinew thread,
taking one long afternoon
wrap (and breathe)
by (and breathe)
wrap (and breathe)
where everyone could spy
the exposed skin slowly sheathed
in tight, black threads
under blue sky and warm sun.
“That’s a lot of work”
“That looks so beautiful.
She is so beautiful.”
They say, dipping their own
bundles in blue baths.
I wrapped this by hand
with sinew thread, taking pains to bind
each limb
one (and breathe)
by (and breathe)
one (and breathe)
slowly
in tight, even wraps
under the blue sky and warm sun.
“How did you do this?
So beautiful. She is so beautiful.”
They say, taking care to hold
everything under water.
One breath
at (and breathe)
a (and breathe)
time, (and breathe)
one long afternoon;
I wrapped this by hand
with sinew thread
under blue sky and warm sun.
Then gathered it up,
held it close to feel the threaded skin
on skin and stepped
one (and breathe)
by (and breathe)
one (and breathe)
slowly
over to the baths and deliver it to
blue sky and warm sun.
“What color, so blue.
So beautiful. She is so beautiful”
They say, while the splashing
calms to unbroken reflection.
I wrapped this by hand
with sinew thread
in tight (and breathe)
even (and breathe
wraps (and
to draw all the air out.
Deep blue, warm sun.
So beautiful. She looks so beautiful.
Wrapped in sinew and blue.