by William Dotani
Member since:
October 27, 2006

Working Towards Salvation

March 18, 2011 05:13 PM UTC
views: 0 | 11 people recommend this | comments: 36

Nice day anyhow, wading through currents
Past events linger on with life yearning
Gravity of importance underlined
Promised responsibilities, denials
This moment anywhere, but the weather
Storyboard drawings await incomplete
Developing hope from  community
Coming warm sunshine requires belief

When awake, distress and pain reissued
Silenced moonlit night, shrouds form dreams crucial
Many sacrifice so elders pull through
Bolster traditional character true
Soul and spirit harmony, quality
Deeply inner empathy, becomes we
Roads traveled on, appointed willingly
Neighbors, relatives and friends, glue and key

Patience, humility, being thankful
Pages torn apart retain, rekindle
Togetherness, caring, so natural
Truth in the compassion of damaged life
Holding on to respect, courage selfless
An island finding its brightest of lights
In faces and eyes, determination
Let us grieve working towards salvation


 

Comments: 36

Bernard C. Mar 18, 2011, 7:19pm UTC
Interesting piece - thanks for sharing :-)

Thanks for submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
William Dotani Mar 19, 2011, 12:01am UTC
Thank you.
Ann Marcaida Mar 19, 2011, 1:25pm UTC
"Many sacrifice so elders pull through"

I think we could use a bit more of this in our society. (Apparently they could in Japan, too-- I hear that elders were pushed aside in the rush to escape the tsunami).

Now featured at The Circus.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 1:26am UTC
I'm sure in terror such things happened. However, the aftermath shows a good decent polite caring patient people.
Thank you.
Karen E. Mar 21, 2011, 2:59am UTC
It does William and this is a gentle, respectful honoring of their journey.
To generalize behavior and say that without exception they demonstrated selflessness would be dishonest at base just as it would be dishonest to say that all Americans would push another aside.
We will never know until that very moment and if not noble in the moment perhaps the next will be so. Thank you for such a sensitive message. It took me deep.
William Dotani Mar 21, 2011, 4:41pm UTC
Karen, Thank you for a well reasoned comment.
Marianne M. Mar 18, 2011, 9:15pm UTC
Nicely done, Bill!
William Dotani Mar 19, 2011, 12:01am UTC
Thank you.
JOHN BECK Mar 18, 2011, 10:19pm UTC
"An island finding its brightest of lights" in the midst of, despite, perhaps in part because of, extreme adversity. Great tribute to the Japanese people, Bill.
William Dotani Mar 19, 2011, 12:02am UTC
That it is.
Thank you.
Rita B. Mar 19, 2011, 12:28pm UTC
Yes John, William (that is a tribute to the Japanese people.) Thank you for posting this. I remember when I worked at the school, walking down the hall two teachers were talking, with no way around them I had to go between them, so I ducked. As I walked away she smiled, that is a custom for politeness with Asian people she told me. :)
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 1:27am UTC
In that situation, yes.
Thank you.
Elsie Duggan Mar 19, 2011, 12:07am UTC
This is a wonderful poem William, every time I see something about Japan on the news, I think of you. If we are worried here, how must the rest of Japan be. God Bless them all, and may your family be safe, take care William, I love you, goodnight, Elsie
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 1:31am UTC
This tragedy is shocking.

Except for the very rude children next door calling me names out their window, things are okay here.
Elsie Duggan Mar 20, 2011, 1:51am UTC
I can't believe kids would have the audacity to call you names William, they must not be being raised very well. So glad everything is okay for you and family. Take care of yourself, I love you,goodnight, Elsie
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 1:58am UTC
It's already 2 a.m. Goodnight and sweet dreams.
William Dotani Mar 19, 2011, 2:35am UTC
Thank you. Goodnight and sweet dreams.
Kay M Mar 19, 2011, 12:14pm UTC
A great tribute to the spirit of the Japanese people. Isn't it odd how when things are at their worst, people can be at their best.
Rita B. Mar 19, 2011, 12:31pm UTC
Kay, I think it is tradition in Japan. I read where there is absolutely no looting in Japan when this tragedy struck.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 12:13am UTC
Living for 16 years in the prime of my adult life taught me the societal rules do not need to be written down, but need to be observed in everyday living. There are virtues that are traditional since the Samurai. Things like honesty, loyalty, etc., matter. The Japanese will forgive an honest person of a non serious crime, if they admit it. In Japan I always went to the same liquor store for beer, got my haircut at the same place and other such stuff. Society needs stability and dependability. I think Japanese people are loyal to merchants they develop a relationship and loyal to watch out for each other, but not intrude or spy on their neighbors. For being so social, people in Japan rarely visit another person's home.
William Dotani Mar 21, 2011, 3:28am UTC
Rita, Because of my stroke, my physical condition is not good, but Japan instilled in me the daily need to be a good citizen. I went outside and swept the rocks of the street nears a gravel road and picked up garbage in our neighborhood park. I don't do this for praise, but because it is the right thing to do for my community. This is a spirit of Japan etched in me. I highly respect Japanese culture.
A. F. Stewart Mar 19, 2011, 12:47pm UTC
A beautiful, poignant poem.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 12:16am UTC
Thank you.
Marge H. Mar 19, 2011, 2:19pm UTC
A beautiful comment on Japanese culture. I can remember a time when it used to be more like that here.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 12:16am UTC
I do too. Thank you.
Chris Brockman Mar 19, 2011, 5:37pm UTC
This is a wonderful tribute to the brave people of Japan and the values they hold dear, values that extreme challenge only makes stronger. If one good thing comes out of this disaster, it may be the renewal of those values, which themsleves have been challenged by other worldly values.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 12:20am UTC
I somewhat agree with you. Japan has a wonderful opportunity to turn this into a social plus of getting young people to marry for patriotic reasons. Everything hinges on the MITI decisions because Japan is a giant corporation.
Thank you.
Sandi S. Mar 19, 2011, 6:20pm UTC
This has a heaviness to it, as if it is a long journey with many obstacles. To me, it seems the relief hoped for does not come, but rather a collapse in fatigue.

Beautifully written. Evocative.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 12:21am UTC
I leave the equation to the reader.
Thank you.
Lawrence U. Mar 19, 2011, 9:42pm UTC
Lovely piece, Bill! What a wonderful reflection on an island finding its own soul, after the tragedy.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 12:23am UTC
This is a long process of sorrows and refinding the path. I have faith in the spirit of the Japanese people.
Thank you.
Donald M. Mar 20, 2011, 10:39am UTC
Have faith in US too. We have always been there for suffering countries. Good article.
William Dotani Mar 20, 2011, 2:49pm UTC
I have lost faith in the US government. The corruption is divisive and very deep. The citizens have a good heart, but our politicians are scum.
Sheila Deeth Mar 23, 2011, 6:29pm UTC
Torn apart and rekindling togetherness and caring. A friend was telling me how someone pieced together an old diary from torn up pieces, so maybe, however torn, things can be repaired.
William Dotani Mar 24, 2011, 1:29am UTC
Life continues from hope.
Thank you.
Donna C. Mar 23, 2011, 9:51pm UTC
This is a beautiful tribute to Japan, William. I am so glad you got it posted.

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