Autumn afternoon—

a battle-weary soldier

dreams of going home.

Summer battlefield—

a soldier about to die

kisses a small cross.

summer solitude—

fading bouquets of roses

on a soldier’s grave

Soldier

A lonely soldier,

thinking of autumn back home,

still sticks to his post.

Headstone

seven steps away

from the soldier’s white headstone

room for a fresh grave

in the telegram

announcing the soldier’s death

a missing full stop

drinking by herself

at a table set for two

young soldier’s widow

a solar lantern

placed upon the soldier’s grave

keeping watch by night

the comfort woman

slips off her blue kimono

before the soldier