Vagabond Multilingual Journal Spring 2005 | Page 33

*** Looking vacantly with empty pupils Swarms of senseless crowds Over?owing with muddy smiles Ironically twisted Neatly ordered glitches of the brain Uneven jar A word forgotten someplace A girl like ice standing by the window No, perhaps made of ivory Statue of iron, stone A cloud that crept into the room Hiding body softly Suddenly a scream is heard beneath the ?oor “Help” “Get me out of here” A sigh escapes from red lips Just verbalized a little Frustration about the noise In this apartment Telephone ringing suddenly noisy The woman frowns And covers her ears

Ayako Urao

On the answering machine a man Talks in a muf?ed voice Something about a kidnapping Not a big deal As the call ends The woman glances at the snow outside And goes to sleep Outside is a storm Under the frozen lake The imprisoned ?sh are Swimming.

Ayako Urao

VAGABOND

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