“Ashes” appeared in Extract(s) in March of 2013, months before I ever considered blogging. It marked my return to publication, after a decade’s absence:
http://dailydoseoflit.com/2013/03/12/poem-robert-okaji-2/
The poem is also available in the print anthology, Extract(s) Volume 2:
http://www.easternpointlithouse.com/#!extracts-daily-dose-of-lit/c19nk
O at the Edges 
“Beautiful” seems such a pale word, but it’s all I have…
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You’re too kind, as always, Ron, but I appreciate it!
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The word I would apply to much of the work I find here is “excellence” (and that’s one of the greatest compliments I could ever give since it’s such a rare quality).
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Thank you! I’m so pleased that my writing has resonated with you.
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The word I would apply is “way cool.” Well, I guess you could hyphenate it. There is a playfulness with language that doesn’t escape the sometimes drastic accidents of play, and therein lies the way cool stuff. Thanks Robert!
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Thanks, Jeff. Your comments are always “way-cool,” and useful, too!
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Today the rain spells forgive
~
magical …
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Thank you. When the rain speaks, I listen…
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What a moving evocation of a beloved spirit, and the final line is so powerful. I too (most probably not having been able to taste the air in all the places I’ve imagined) would wish this.
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It was a tough line to tease out, but it finally appeared.
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sweet nostalgia
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And bitter, too, I suppose.
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Lovely, very precise and poignant. To me, for all it’s sweetness too that I’m not intending to underestimate, it speaks too of the cruelty of time, and the present-ness – for better and worse – of nostagia and memory. Superb.
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Thanks very much. Time is difficult.
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Quietly powerful. Thank you for sharing it.
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You’re very welcome. And thanks for reading.
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They’re lovely pictures.
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I wish I could claim them – they’re from morguefile.com.
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I would say ethereal, with the precise detailing of things that almost transcend time. Very lovely writing.
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I very much appreciate your comments. Thank you.
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Great poem, loved the images of playing Sakura. Made me think of death as the return to childhood. When my grandmother died my mum spoke German to her which was her mother tongue. It seemed the obvious thing to do. Made me think of that. Thanks for liking my post, it is very flattering seeing as you are an excellent writer.
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There are times when all we can think to do is reach back. Thank you for your kind words.
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In poetry… There is sympathetic resonance… It is so effective in stirring the inside positively…thats what you do to me with your poems…re-energized..!deep begets deep
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Thanks very much for your kind comments. It’s always gratifying to hear that my words have some positive effect.
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“trusting that she might find comfort in the blossoms fluttering through the failing notes”
Oh.
Thank you.
chris
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I’m so pleased the line resonated with you, Chris. Thank you.
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Hi Robert. Thank you very much for liking my poem Charming Little Place! Have a Great Christmas and New Year. The Foureyed Poet.
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Thanks for returning the favor. And I hope your holidays are peaceful and fun-filled.
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