The Unfolding Daughter
A long way from home.
Brought into our family,
Japanese daughter.
Origami skills
With crisp folds and sharp angles.
Flower, fish and stork.
Just like Pearl Harbour,
An unexpected attack.
A disappointment.
Paper conceals rock.
Time to use scissors,
Say Sayonara.
.
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© J Cosmo Newbery 2016
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Unfolding daughter.. love the origami reference.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible!
ReplyDeleteJapanese art in Japanese poetic form.
ReplyDeletePaper can conceal and convey many weapon - i'm curious were Japanese children refugees in Australia? do excuse my ignorance -
ReplyDeleteI'll answer elsewhere, off-line.
Deleteone must be ready for surprise while unfolding....
ReplyDeleteI like the way the story develops through the use of haiku. It is terse but poignant.
ReplyDeleteI really had a good laugh at this one.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we will look back and laugh too. One day.
DeleteSometimes stories don't unfolds as you expect...
ReplyDeleteI'm with Bjorn... Sometimes stories have a way to surprise us. I think I was just left holding the paper and scissors, after the rock smashed my foot.
ReplyDeleteWonderful structure and form to tell the tale.
That last stanza is so telling. Sometimes there are unexpected endings!
ReplyDeleteThere is a story with tears behind this poem. I love the way origami is used as the metaphor throughout.
ReplyDeleteGoodness! Turning two childhood games into imagery of war and maturing, oh, how paradoxical our love, our hope!
ReplyDeletevery clever use of the reference to Pearl harbour for an unexpected attack.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sherry...there is another story behind these wonderfully written lines...wonderful metaphor!
ReplyDeleteA lovely piece!
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderfully crafted on so many levels. Love it!
ReplyDeleteSince there is a vacancy you can adopt me.I can make home made butter...don't do origami but can make missiles from folded paper serviettes.
ReplyDeleteOh, so sad! I hope that making this story into such excellent art helps to heal the hurt.
ReplyDelete