ObasuteI carried motherto the mountain top, leavingher there, as ordered.Descending alone, I wept,skipping lightly as a goat.
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Tanka Journal poet
Cathy Bryant
In their own words
‘Obasute’ was inspired directly by Yasushi Inoue’s story of the same name, the theme of which is the abandonment of the elderly on mountains. In the story it is seen as a poignant and terrible thing, but it occurred to me that there are those among us, myself included, whose relationship with their parents would render the experience one of mixed emotions.
Thank you for taking the time to read my work.
Blue has spilled overthe hillside. Little bent bellsring in the season.A forest of your blue eyes.My first smiles of Spring have bloomed.
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