bow down to Sika deer
as they bow down to you
messengers of the Gods
in every sacred temple
sacred Sika deer show no fear
it all seems so simple
in that complex Japanese way
feeding biscuits to the Sika deer
it seems Sika deer are holy residents
they are there to stay
in Japan so much is tradition
ancient Shinto and Buddhist philosophy
courtesy and respect is evident
there are Zen gardens
meant to feature sacred mountains
evidence of sacred water
Zen representing sacred topography
all those hand picked rocks
so many individual grains
of raked and groomed sand
unlike Rapa Nui where volcanoes made it hotter
more essential nature
another Pacific Ocean strand
where all those stone statues still stand
without pardon on that pacific garden
Moai cannibals evolved blowing conch
wearing mother of pearl necklaces
strands of all those shining shells
unlike Japanese who bow down
hearing ringing sacred bells
bow down to blessed Sika deer
teetering on that narrow Pacific rift
such a testy volcanic shelf
bow down to Shinto and Buddhism
as sacred stars bow down to self
those Moai rise to tell us
they were there on Rapa Nui
both volcanic island her
and ocean going him
bow down to Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui won't make a fuss
birdmen on Polynesian islands
waiting for coming flocks of Sooty Tern
ocean kin of Black-legged Kittywake
giving life to statue Moai
waiting for kavakava to walk and wake
forced to bow down
to European and American treachery
driven to bow down
to nuclear genocide and smallpox
those feared sea going invaders
taking innocent Rapa Nui slaves
committing whiteman lechery
still there is Zen and ahu
alive in Rapa Nui's hidden caves
all those miscreant Christian priests
those misguided listing missionaries
cursed by heaven and God
lechers beyond imagination
wretched Good Friday on Easter Island
where treachery's scars
today they still remain
Moai lay face down in red volcanic soil
aku may still rise again
but in the end every Zen garden
bow down to Rapa Nui
bow down to Buddhist Sika deer
bow down to reconciliation
reconciling bowing nature
without showing fear or shame
those stony faced ancients
who have conquered certain death
bow down to ancient culture
constructing rock garden mulch
confined fragments of ancient culture
refinement is nearly still the same

 

 

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