Two Poems by Maki Starfield

My Beginning

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.