Sunday, July 17, 2016

878 - The Unfolding Daughter


The Unfolding Daughter

A long way from home.
Brought into our family,
Japanese daughter.

Origami skills
With crisp folds and sharp angles.
Flower, fish and stork.

Just like Pearl Harbour,
An unexpected attack.
A disappointment.

Paper conceals rock.
Time to use scissors,
Say Sayonara.
.
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© J Cosmo Newbery 2016
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20 comments:

  1. Unfolding daughter.. love the origami reference.

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  2. Japanese art in Japanese poetic form.

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  3. Paper can conceal and convey many weapon - i'm curious were Japanese children refugees in Australia? do excuse my ignorance -

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  4. one must be ready for surprise while unfolding....

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  5. I like the way the story develops through the use of haiku. It is terse but poignant.

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  6. I really had a good laugh at this one.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure we will look back and laugh too. One day.

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  7. Sometimes stories don't unfolds as you expect...

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  8. I'm with Bjorn... Sometimes stories have a way to surprise us. I think I was just left holding the paper and scissors, after the rock smashed my foot.

    Wonderful structure and form to tell the tale.

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  9. That last stanza is so telling. Sometimes there are unexpected endings!

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  10. There is a story with tears behind this poem. I love the way origami is used as the metaphor throughout.

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  11. Goodness! Turning two childhood games into imagery of war and maturing, oh, how paradoxical our love, our hope!

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  12. very clever use of the reference to Pearl harbour for an unexpected attack.

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  13. I agree with Sherry...there is another story behind these wonderfully written lines...wonderful metaphor!

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  14. This is so wonderfully crafted on so many levels. Love it!

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  15. AnonymousJuly 19, 2016

    Since there is a vacancy you can adopt me.I can make home made butter...don't do origami but can make missiles from folded paper serviettes.

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  16. Oh, so sad! I hope that making this story into such excellent art helps to heal the hurt.

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