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| Kamisaka Sekka, "Court Guard (Eishi)" (1909-1910) |
I launch my arrows — at the eye of sleep
— at the heart of sleep
— at the belly of sleep — and watch
each one bounce, tumble
to ground
this republic outside of which I stand, blue
as begging, as hope
outside the realm, the select borderland
where I long to place my head
the panic of an archer
fist at the bow, determined, yet
the body refuses to relinquish
— fearful
— vigilant
arrows scatter across the dark morning
I stand at the republic’s edge, clutching
a tattered flag
any rest
just spit in blue dust
Michelle Penn. Why acceptance is like sleep. The Lonely Crowd, 2024.




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