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Summer Plums
To enter house of geiko’s eve’ning tea,
Who plucks the string of shamisen & heart
With repertoire of words & melody.
Though geisha is a student of the art,
One sweetest blossom sings to only me.
I am a customer who visits there,
As modern times have opened door I see.
For lady in her prime who seeks the care
Of lovely flower trained to serve & be
The lilt to lift my day, to lighter bare.
She is the touch to ev’ry sense & drum,
As sipping on my tea, may Buddha bless,
A note of gentle speak, to hear it come.
The sight of this alone, my mind’s caress:
She wears kimono of the summer plum.
And comes a time I pray will not arrive;
To leave! (but knowing, glad to be alive.)
Copyright©️2018 Jade Pandora. All Rights Reserved.
Jade adds: This is about how, in recent times, women in Japan now also visit geiko (fully trained Geisha) in what once was an exclusive society for men only. And please note this:
Sheridan Prasso wrote that Americans had "an incorrect impression of the real geisha world ... geisha means 'arts person' trained in music and dance, not in the art of sexual pleasure". K. G. Henshall wrote that the geisha's purpose was "to entertain their customer, be it by dancing, reciting verse, playing musical instruments, or engaging in light conversation. Geisha engagements may include flirting with men and playful innuendos; however, clients know that nothing more can be expected. In a social style that is common in Japan, men are amused by the illusion of that which is never to be.”
Who plucks the string of shamisen & heart
With repertoire of words & melody.
Though geisha is a student of the art,
One sweetest blossom sings to only me.
I am a customer who visits there,
As modern times have opened door I see.
For lady in her prime who seeks the care
Of lovely flower trained to serve & be
The lilt to lift my day, to lighter bare.
She is the touch to ev’ry sense & drum,
As sipping on my tea, may Buddha bless,
A note of gentle speak, to hear it come.
The sight of this alone, my mind’s caress:
She wears kimono of the summer plum.
And comes a time I pray will not arrive;
To leave! (but knowing, glad to be alive.)
Copyright©️2018 Jade Pandora. All Rights Reserved.
Jade adds: This is about how, in recent times, women in Japan now also visit geiko (fully trained Geisha) in what once was an exclusive society for men only. And please note this:
Sheridan Prasso wrote that Americans had "an incorrect impression of the real geisha world ... geisha means 'arts person' trained in music and dance, not in the art of sexual pleasure". K. G. Henshall wrote that the geisha's purpose was "to entertain their customer, be it by dancing, reciting verse, playing musical instruments, or engaging in light conversation. Geisha engagements may include flirting with men and playful innuendos; however, clients know that nothing more can be expected. In a social style that is common in Japan, men are amused by the illusion of that which is never to be.”
Published 12th Jun 2018
| Edited 25th Jun 2018
Author's Note
Written for & entered in the DUP competition “World of Geisha”: it placed 2nd.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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comments 13
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12th Jun 2018 3:08pm
12th Jun 2018 3:11pm
I love the poem, Jade. This is my favorite line.
"One sweetest blossom sings to only me. "
"One sweetest blossom sings to only me. "
12th Jun 2018 6:34pm
12th Jun 2018 6:08pm
12th Jun 2018 6:17pm
12th Jun 2018 7:56pm
Geisha's were trained to delight, seems to me, and that enriched their own lives. I love the poem and the info you supplied after helped immensely. The Geishas had genuine class, as does this write. Good luck with the comp, sweet Jade!
With warmest thanks to you, my crowfly friend, for enjoying & embracing my poem’s honor of an ancient institution that, even with its history, finds change within its chambers to allow for growth.
~Jadey
~Jadey
Anonymous
12th Jun 2018 11:33pm
Absolutely beautiful!!
A masterful work of art!!
All the luck in the comp although I doubt you’ll need it with this piece
It simply COMMANDS first place!!
A masterful work of art!!
All the luck in the comp although I doubt you’ll need it with this piece
It simply COMMANDS first place!!
12th Jun 2018 11:56pm
Ohh dear me, my Friend... it’s got a long way to go to find out. But how supportive can a person be, you show just how much; how humble & honored I feel. Most of all, however, is your enjoyment of my work, that means so much. And thank you!
15th Jun 2018 5:43pm
This is definitely beautiful and elegant. Love the word choice and the rhyming design. Glad to know what or who a geisha is through your work. And wish you luck with the competition.
love
Jasmine
love
Jasmine
15th Jun 2018 6:29pm
Thank you, lovely Jasmine, for your kindest of words. I’ve always hoped to meet you, and to read your poetry. It’s wonderful that you visit me here, as I will visit you very soon.
love
Jade
love
Jade
15th Jun 2018 7:22pm
You're so welcome. It's my pleasure to read your poems. I often do, but it's my first time to leave a comment.
So much fun to talk with you here.
So much fun to talk with you here.
