Poetry For Now

Truthful, humorous and insightful poetry to uplift and brighten your day. Hosted and written by Martin Strasmore. The resounding gongs, played by Kassandra Strasmore, offer an experience of peace and tranquility. Good poetry can open up the mind and heart to new ways of seeing the world, accepting difficulties and embracing opportunities for transformation. Each episode is intended to support and uplift the world and to renew our respect for each other and nature.

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Poetry For Now

The Japanese Experience

August 28, 2025 • Martin Strasmore • Season 4 • Episode 8

These poems give a small flavor of our 3 week journey through Japan, which followed my walk on the Kumano Kodo. In my photo book, Exploring Japan, the themes are Transportation, Food, Gardens, Shrines and Temples and unique cultural experiences like Sumo wrestling, Taiko drumming, a zen monk, making Mochi and Mulberry paper. These poems, some in the form of WAKAs, follow these themes.

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MOVING ALONG

Sleek as a snake

the bullet train

glides into the station

I move fast to find my seat.

Who is sitting in it?

Seeking help

Two minutes pass

discovering this is

the train before mine

moving faster

I am off just in time.

Like swiss chronographs

the trains move in and out.

spotless, smooth, quiet

time machines

conquering space.

I arrive at the chosen

destination

and move out fast.

Ticket machines

helpful guides

multilevel shopping meccas above

dazzling restaurants below

Snacks, starbucks and 711,

stations are lively cities

FOOD IS ART

Delicate colorful dishes

sexagonal, circular, square

Placed artfully

Become a feast

for eyes and tongues.

All tastes are here,

salty, sweet. sour

bitter, umami.

Textures too.

crunchy and crispy,

soft and melting,

smooth and rough.

Railway stations,

Highway rest stops,

city restaurants,

packed lunches,

here food becomes

edible artwork

They’re Matcha wild

twirling around green delight

the ceremonial tea.

making green

Ice cream and angel cake.

Food, food, glorious food

Keeps on coming.

Tofu, tempura.

Sashimi, sushi

Shabu shabu

Ramen,soba

Udon, Yuzu

Mochi, Matcha

Yum Yum, Oishii oishii

Homage to 711

Our secondary food source

we love those egg sandwiches

in soft white bread

just the right amount of mayo

Of course the matcha ice cream

cannot be ignored.

Eli passes out

some of his daily supplies

of dried pseudo fruit.

I suck on a sweet and sour gummy

picture of a pineapple

creates the illusion

I am eating fruit.

GARDENS

Like a good life

a great garden

offers mindful contrasts

freedom in spaciousness

quietness in seclusion.

fluidity of moving water

solidity of stone structures.

Today blue iris blooms

gold and silver Koi

blow bubbles

pucker their lips

red azaleas brighten

chosen rocks edging the pond.

Each garden is unique

All gardens here inspire

enticing me

to stay and linger

to be fully present

in their beauty.

Bamboos tall slender

majestically reach for sun

embracing us with peace

the Groves shady path

leads into tranquility.

KYOTO SHRINES

I turn a corner

two stone dogs

wait for a visit

to their master’s shrine

A scholar and a poet.

worship here brings wisdom

In another alley

lions seem to guard

two colorful archers

deep inside this shrine

worship here brings courage

In the pouring rain

we arrive at Fushima Inari

Foxes are Inari’s messengers

Inari the god of rice

The vermillion red Torii gates

wind up the mountain

ten thousand gates

leading to Inari’s shrine

THE GREAT EASTERN TEMPLE

The crowds of worshippers

wave their incense sticks and candles

outside the great wooden hall

eyes drawn to the immense Birushana Bhudda

black bronze with the golden halo.

Flanked by tall dancing statues

patina bronze lotuses and butterflies

I just want to sit still

in the presence of Bhudda

OSAKA TO HITOSHIMA

From the crowded street of Dotonburi

to Hideyoshi’s imposing castle

One night its Takooyaki (octopus balls)

Another its Okonomyaka (cabbage pancakes)

Happy we leave the big consumer city.

Hiroshima, now a city of peace

The memorial park and museum,

stark reminders of wars

No-one wins

Imagine, as John Lennon sings,

the brotherhood of man.

We meet

Mrs. Kiyomi Kono

94 years old

sharing

the horrors of that August day

80 years ago,

Did her trip to Pearl Harbor,

hearing about the sailors’ deaths

make her own pain less?

THE MONK

Everything changes.

This moment will dissolve’

with a calm mind pray."

Feel happy, free of desires,

wisdom and harmony now,

zero and infinity meet.

Love.