Observing the universe in a puddle of water,
Ganesha sacrifices his right tusk
To write down a bevy of words
In order to analyze them.
“In many traditions around the world,” he says,
“A mole on the foot means one is destined to travel.”
He suddenly turns to me, his expression grave.
“If that’s the case, then what does a mole on the brain represent?”
And it’s as if I’m falling…
The digital clock
Atop the building across the river reads 4:45 am
As my weary soul traverses the Brooklyn Bridge.
Quiet, churchlike,
Its gothic arches, stone towers,
And spider-web of cables
Call to mind the years that have elapsed
Since it first spanned the East River.
Behind me, the buildings of Manhattan
Glisten and gleam
Like thousands of jewels stacked atop one another.
I picture old Graybeard
On the deck of a ferry,
Crossing this same stretch of tributary
Well over a hundred years ago,
His mind everywhere at once
And his spirit one with the whole of time.
Across the dark water,
The Q Train rattles along the Manhattan Bridge,
Its rhythm syncopated
Like a Duke Ellington tune,
Bringing me back to the present
While the faintest of light in the eastern sky
Creates a kaleidoscopic collage of color
Reminiscent of a Mondrian painting.
And with the dawn, I am reborn.
© Chester Sakamoto
The Wayward Poet 
April 16, 2017 at 7:48 pm
“If we can learn anything from Lord Ganesha, it is: Be sincere and care no one in the line of duty.”
― Mohith Agadi
“Then what in your opinion is a good story?’
‘What it’s always been, monkey,’ Ganesha said. ‘One dhansu conflict. Some chaka-chak song and dance. Grief. Love. Love for the lover, love for the mother. Love for the land. Comedy. Terror. One tremendous villain whom we must love also. All the elements properly balanced and mixed together, item after item, like a perfect meal with a dance of tastes. There you have it.”
― Vikram Chandra, Red Earth and Pouring Rain
You are only to be reborn every time you create a poem. That poem becomes a masterpiece. That poem you become heals the planet. That poem you are, becomes destiny to civilization.
My gosh! The imagery you use on your work always brings a blessing smile to my face. Like I told you by phone. You are ready to make a book. You can change things in the poetic community. You are my inspiration my friend. 🙂 You make the world a better place. 🙂
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April 21, 2017 at 2:12 am
Thank you, my friend! This one came to me the other evening, and was born of two thoughts that crossed paths in my mind: excerpts from the “Mahabharata” I’d read earlier that day and the memory of me walking across the Brooklyn Bridge when I went to New York last summer. The two sort of coalesced in my mind and turned into a transcendental experience (hence the reference to Graybeard, a.k.a. Whitman.) I must confess, this is one of the better poems I’ve composed (and it’s one of my favorites.) I’m so pleased that you like it as well. 🙂
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April 21, 2017 at 1:29 pm
The combination of ‘Mahabharata’ and Brooklyn Bridge. Makes a lot of sense and the influence you took from it. Does bring a blend of your own voice and something so fresh and creatively well written and masterful poetry my friend. 🙂
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