After “Still life with Calpis wrapping paper”

Nakamura Tsune (1923)

“the taste of first love” —

white and blue-spotted

bottles misting in the open chiller

of the kombini, serenaded by

cashier’s faint beeping,

plastic bags rustling

faintly, faintly, like leaves

the first posters were

bright stars in a lapis night

unrolling off the edge.

season of wishes, prismatic

sleeves wound fondly round

reeds, season for crossings,

for clasping hands atop

a bridge of shivering wings

said paper laid as runner

for pot of lilies, tall vase

holding two stalks of camelia

for which the sky is all mirror,

encrusted with first loves

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