At the mountain station
the train ground its gears
to pause for a moment.
No one came out to signal.
No one appeared to board.
No face peered from
the station’s glazed windows.
In the paralyzed air,
the terraces fell away
below us, tiered for eternity.
Only cherry blossom
petals sashayed down
from the mountains above,
resting nonchalantly
on platform and tracks.
Published with permission.
Poem from Elizabeth's recently published Anthology "Coming from Japan"
