THE MAIDEN

Japanese Boys Festival


On the fifth day
Of the fifth month
Almond trees flower
in the ancient land of Matsuo Basho
snow crowned Fuji,
land of the Rising Sun
On poles and in the trees,
hang radiantly colored, fish shaped kites
bright, visual pride for each household
blessed with the honor
of a man-child

Here the honored ask
that these valued sons
may always swim
On ivory winds

(On hoary stone studded hillsides of antiquity
they screamed to the uncaring air
shaking tiny pink, futilely fisted hands
this insult to patriarchy
this affront to patrimony
Punish with death
the offence,
the outrage,
of having been born
female)

The beauty, gaiety, and bright colored festivity
of this celebration
does not change it’s deepest meaning
Even profound respect for a culture
ancient, picturesque, complex
Cannot make a deep, basic injustice
Right

On the fifth day
Of the fifth month
Apricot trees flower
in this young, green land of Emily and Vincent, Sylvia, Elizabeth
Gertrude, all the Ann's and all the others yet to be a
land of multiplicity, land of diversity
of sweeping prairies, streaming cities
marsh, desert, seaside, field,
cascading multitudes of purpled hills
Here dawn will find me
hanging ribbons in dancing profusion through the trees

Ribbons of pink
soft, visual thankfulness
that this household has been blessed
with the honor, the riches
the joy
of women-children

And may you, my daughters
all your lives long
dance bright in a wind of acceptance and understanding
Blessed to be born
Where the wind blows
Free


©Edwina Peterson Cross