Japan,
self-aware Japan.
I love your people
on the trains—
looking formal,
smelling nice,
being quiet—
packed into air-conditioned quarters.
***
Packed Japan.
Packed is what you sometimes must be,
though moved around efficiently.
***
Mountainous Japan.
I love your landscapes
on the trains—
green fields,
charming houses,
and green mountains.
The temples in your mountains sanctify silence.
***
Clean Japan.
Take what you use with you,
until there’s a place it should go.
***
Commercial Japan.
So many selling,
not as many anxious about it.
Relaxed hours,
because enough money
still seems the money made.
***
Cultural creator Japan.
A conservative people,
who liberate their minds in anime.
Not just an esteemed cultural product,
but also wild imagination,
coming from self-aware,
packed,
mountainous,
clean,
commercial,
Japan.
***
I, an American,
“consume” their anime culture,
and am enriched by the depth of story and ensuing philosophy,
as I am enriched by the art.
***
Being an island people,
their diet is not leaning toward my ideal.
Nobody’s perfect.
***
Charming Japan.
Not just your little homes,
but also your old women in the laundromat,
your bartenders by the train station,
your food vendors in the temple complex,
your train workers,
your shop owners,
your flight attendants.
***
Organized Japan.
Organized with convenient people spaces,
and convenient car spaces.
***
You have a good thing going,
felt I, a white-passing racially ambiguous American man.
Please don’t forget to repopulate.
Ma(’)s Espacio 