June 24 2009 random

(a random poem from my journal on leaving Japan)

6 and a half weeks left
relationships have changed
with the ebbs and tides of oceans
matured
diverged
strengthened
and in the worst cases,
entire continents of memories
have split off their shelves.
Never again
to be the same
landmass.
A child's eyes light up
as I bike by
"GAIJIN!"
I cling to it.
old students return my greeting
without energy
What happened???
It must be
just a fluke of Wednesday.
Blame it on the Tetons
Whatever that means.
I still have the energy
I'm not stale yet.
So many Wednesdays
have passed
Greetings with and without
Genki
Genki I catch and use
Spread like the flu
Genki I search for yet cannot
find
Genki I keep to myself as I laugh about
Chickens
fruit bus stops
and Them.
Them whom I have grown to
Love.
What the hell is Arai Sensei laughing at?
I laugh with him.
This rose of Love
has its thorns
but I ignore them
in my remaing six and a half weeks
their thorns don't sting
as deeply.
I recognize our differences.
Changes.
Myself.
I will never fit in their box
nor any box
I love my life outside of it
too much.
six and a half weeks.
roses.
thorns and all.
peels of laughter
robot dances
chickens and fruit bus stops
I loved them all
I return to Wednesday.