I am the sea
I am the sun
I am the wind blowing across the world’s sky
I am the blue eyes
I am your blue eyes
Piercing the time that surrounds us,
a ray of light that connects us.
I want to go
to the far reaches of the universe.
And suddenly—
I become invisible.
And you become invisible.
And all that’s left
is sound.
When life and death meet,
with you,
I begin.
□
Morning Psalms of Bangkok
(Blessings of the Squall)
i) Already Here
Morning—
and Bangkok is already here.
We arrived together
at Asoke Station.
Two Japanese girls:
Namjai and Khamhon by name.
ii) Song of the Squall
Tirelessly,
it praises the morning’s chaos—
the squall’s sound
tears through the city’s sleep
as a blessing,
nature’s air conditioner.
iii) Simply
Simply,
the mane of the bodhi tree
softens the line
between light and shadow.
Simply,
the heart blurs the boundary
between mangosteen and durian.
iv) Faces
A quiet, hot wind
brushes the skin.
Dawn’s light
gently lies on the leaves.
Bangkok,
slowly,
begins to awaken.
Everywhere—
faces begin to appear.
v) Through
By the window,
a banana tree,
a notebook, a pen,
and sparks of light.
Through curtains
of flowers and green,
the sound of tuk-tuks,
and voices in the street
shouting, “Aroi!”
□
Maki Starfield is a Japanese poet, haiku poet, and translator known for her captivating works that blend traditional and contemporary styles. Self-taught in haiku since 2008, she holds a TESOL certification from St. George International College, Canada (2012). Her poetry has been showcased globally, with appearances in literary magazines across Italy, Greece, China, and more, and translations in over fifteen languages. Starfield's bilingual poetry works include collaborations like "Duet of Fireflies" and "Duet of Dawn". Her collections include "Oneness" (2019), "Bouquet of Roses" (2020), and "In Love A Sound" (2022). A member of the International Poets Society of Japan and Modern Haiku Association, she's received notable awards such as the JUNPA Newcomer Award (2020), Naji Naaman Literary Award (2020), and Pushcart Prize Nomination (2021), showcasing her impactful presence in global poetry.
.jpg)