This beautiful poem was donated to our blog, not only to highlight its creators talent - but to bring attention to an important 'rematch'. On Thursday, the US women will be playing the Japanese in the Olympic final, a rematch of the 2011 final that inspired the poem. Thank you to Uche Ogbuji for gifting this piece.
Yamato Nadeshiko
Women's World Cup Final, 2011
Nippon, land and lore
Invokes such fascination,
All to be admired…
No! Not all to be admired…
Such bold type of shy contrasts.
This heavy year brought
You uncompromising suffering;
What heart did not feel
Those twin spread sensations
Collapsed into one keen touch.
Now, these few months on
Your Blue Samurai ladies
Infect us with will;
We too taste the blood red disc
In it's white, inductive field,
White of that banner,
Its plain, stark humility
Shading coiled up strength.
Those black, roman letters seem
To draw us in your circle.
Do we still have doubts,
Seek signs of outbound contempt?
It's best we don't hedge;
When grace gives unwavering voice
Mustn't we take her at her word?
The pink bloom unveiled:
"To our friends around the world
Thanks for your support."
And what openings shall follow
Come what may these more-than-games?
published with permission from the author - Uche Ogbuji
