JOY KOGAWA
  • Poetry
    • Invasion
    • Small Rock
    • grief poem
    • Offerings
    • Where there's a Wall
    • For a Blank Book
    • If your mirror breaks
    • Note to a gentleman
  • About
  • Books
  • Photos
  • Blog
  • Historic Joy Kogawa House

FOR A BLANK BOOK

I have a peculiar
leaf shaped ears
my fur is
forest coloured 

when your flesh
first uttered words
I lost understanding 

you said I attend
stone and not flesh
source and not blood
bread and not bone 

your flesh
your blood
your bone 

which brings you to
mistrust of me 

and all the while
the stone bleeds
the source calls your name
the bread is broken 

but you cannot see
or hear
or taste 

listen then, my love,
to the wind blowing
and the sound of breath
over the grassy forest floor 

but know I did not bend
to the right or to the left
all the while
that I loved you

Copyright © 1985 Joy Kogawa.  All rights reserved.
  • Poetry
    • Invasion
    • Small Rock
    • grief poem
    • Offerings
    • Where there's a Wall
    • For a Blank Book
    • If your mirror breaks
    • Note to a gentleman
  • About
  • Books
  • Photos
  • Blog
  • Historic Joy Kogawa House