Japanese Villanelle   (十九行ニ韻詩)

The Great Quake and Tsunami in the Land of the Rising Sun
Their prosperous horizon now sports the shrine and cross
gods and ghosts entreated to be spared from the next one

Horrified, watching live, we try to find the Zen
Houses, boats and cars which nature's fury tossed
the Great Quake and Tsunami in the land of the Rising Sun

Centuries of traditions lie splintered, abraded and then
contaminated whirlpools, so many futures lost
gods and ghosts entreated to be spared from the next one

Molten mass confusion causes falling of the yen
survivors cry for water amidst the snow and frost
the Great Quake and Tsunami in the Land of the Rising Sun

Nuclear explosions are still spewing out our kin
all the world is scrambling to help absorb the cost
gods and shosts entreated to be spared from the next one

My grandmother in Tokyo could have imagined when
kimono friends whispered as they knelt before the cross
a Great Quake and Tsunami in the Land of the Rising Sun
gods and ghosts entreated to be spared from the next one.

By Randi H. Hawkins
March 14 & 15, 2011