Three Days
Earlier than planned they sought places your spirit might be.
No one could decide, so ashes were divided into thirds.
Each portion looked for you from a different place:
from skyline, from water, from earth.
I found you in Japan, one early morning in the park
where the sleepless gaijin and homeless cats wander
under lilac boughs, lost and hungry. Far from home,
you were waving arms by the fountain, squinting in the sun.
For days we followed memories of this place.
we shared quiet evenings at the Black and White Café
over frizzled rice and tofu. You watched me fumble chopsticks,
eat each grain of rice, drink too much green tea.
One night, back at the hotel, we lingered in the lobby
by the flower arrangement of bleached wood,
branches of bone gather white flowers,
like origami cranes, perched and waiting to fly.
You put me to sleep that third night, and in my dream
you were gathering iris along the moat at Nagoya Castle.
Clouds crossed the sun, you looked up as if remembering
a flight you were scheduled to take.
For three days you forgot you were gone,
for three days I remembered.
© Jan M. Veile
1954 -2011
In honor of the first anniversary of my sister’s passing, I submit her words. The theme was a perfect match for this poem that has been on my mind for the past few days, remembering. Jan’s complete work of poetry is available on Amazon. The photo prompt is by Sandra Crook, courtesy of Madison Woods. Their stories can be found here, along with links to all the other Flash Friday Fictioneers.
© Erin Leary
erinlearywrites 
Aw, I had no idea from the text that it was about something so strong. It just seemed like such a pleasant piece… I liked the gaijin reference.
She spent a lot of time in Japan through her work as a flight attendant. Narita and Nagoya were like her second homes.
Oh, and, http://littlewonder2.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/friday-fictioneers-peace-and-chaos/ Mine.
Erin, what a lovely way to remember your sister. Her words are beautiful.
Thank you – I appreciate that!
Hi Erin,
Wow, the writng gene must run in your family. Just beautiful and what a nice tribute to your sister. Thanks for sharing. Ron
Thank you for your kind words, Ron.
I thought that this sounded familiar. A nice tribute…and it works so well with the photo.
It did, didn’t it?
Wow. It’s such a beautiful and awe-inspiring poem. A lovely and touching tribute.
She was a gifted poet. Reading her work is a little like having her here with me. I’m grateful for that.
What a poignant and apt poem. I love that you are remembering her by sharing her poem about remembering. Thanks for sharing this.
Mine is over here http://anneorchardwriter.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/friday-fictioneers-jungle-escape/
Thank you, Anne.
That was very moving Erin, and bears reading several times to extract the deepest significance. I could imagine this would be a great comfort to you. Lovely.
Your picture was a perfect inspiration.
Beautiful words and a moving way to remember your sister.
http://adrarasdreams.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/fridayfictioneers-gate.html
Ow, so touching and very well done. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/fridayfictioneers-my-dream/
Thank you. She was a wonderful sister.
Lovely, lovely. And so glad you posted her words, a fitting tribute to your sister.
Thank you – it felt right to do it.
A fitting memorial for your sister, Erin. I’m sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Rochelle.
Very honorable and befitting way to remember your sister. May she continue to rest in peace.
Thank you, Boomie!
So well done, and it just got stronger and stronger as it went on. The phrases about the gaijin and stray cats wandering beneath the boughs were great. Really nice.
Thank you, Brian. This is probably my favorite poem from her work.
i’m curious about this line. “for three days you forgot you were gone.”
Hi Rich,
Jan wrote this about a friend of hers who died. She felt most connected to her when she would be in Japan on her layovers – it was a chance to feel like she was still there.
It is much how I feel without Jan. She is just away on a trip, or I’ve missed her call. I feel her with me in our shared memories.
thanks. i thought maybe something mystical was happening with someone not knowing they were “gone.”
A wonderfully moving tribute. This week also marks the one year passing of someone very close to me, so I know exactly how you feel. You greatly honor your sister’s memory.
beautiful words, thank you for sharing them. She was a fine poet.
So beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I lost my sister too. What a great thing to remember her by.
This is moving on several levels. Suffice to say that I will remember your sister’s words and you for sharing them. I think that is all a writer can ask for in this world.
Aloha,
Doug