Natsu-San
By Onoto Watanna
When Natsu lived the fields were all alive
And perfumed, sweet with cherry blossoms wild;
And overhead the redbird made their nests
And sang in concert with the half-caste child.
When Natsu died the sun, all blazing red,
Sank suddenly behind a blue-gray cloud;
The blowing, restless pine trees scarcely stirred;
Each mourned for her within its snowy shroud.
When Natsu lived the flashing sunshine smiled
And played in rapture on her midnight hair;
It loitered glad in her deep purple eyes,
And kissed the russet cheeks and lips so rare.
When Natsu died the passion’s bloom had fled,
And white and cold and pure and still she lay;
The sweet lips dumb, the speaking eyes now closed;
The wistful questioning gone, alas! for aye.
Past rice fields, whence the summer’s grace had flown,
Where wintry wind-wraiths chanted dirges wild,
They bore her gently - they who ne’er had known
The red barbarian’s child.
- Boston Journal.