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.