Koi No Yokan
Location
First a sighting that feels…
Odd.
Something is coming.
Not rapidly,
But gradually,
Allowing time to prepare.
It builds up slowly,
Like eroding a mountain face
That blocks the fine waters
Of a crystalline river
That sprouts green
And refracts color of sunlight and flowers.
You graze there comfortably,
Staying within the bounds of the valley
And taking a nibble of the sweet berries
Every now and then.
Comfortable becomes redundant
And the dark pines beckon.
You dip in cautiously
and gingerly taste the fruits within.
The flavor bursts with sweet color;
How exciting it is in the forest.
A joy to behold,
Though the wolf lingers there, waiting.
Bright eyes behind bushes here
Where the nights are even darker.
This is fear, and it comes in a rhythm.
Soon you learn, and life is second nature,
But soon
You’ll want the valley back.