José Angel Araguz discusses a few of my poems… The Friday Influence is one of the first poetry blogs I discovered; I enjoy reading José’s Friday musings. And his poetry!
Mirror – Robert Okaji
The attraction is not
unexpected. We see
what is placed
before us, not
what may be.
The mirror is empty
until approached.
*
This week’s poems were originally published as part of the Origami Poems Project who create free, downloadable microchaps. “Mirror” and “Earth” (below) come from You Break What Falls, and “Sheng-yu’s Lament” (also below) comes from No Eye But the Moon’s: Adaptations from the Chinese. Both microchaps are availabe for free on Okaji’s Origami Poems author page.
What I enjoy about “Mirror” is how it engages the symbol of a mirror lyrically, so that the metaphysical connotations don’t weigh the poem down. Instead, the short lyric passes as quickly as a reflection, while its insights linger like light.
A similar engine is at the heart of “Earth.” Both poems deal with human presence and their implications. Where one fills the “empty”…
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O at the Edges 
I couldn’t agree with him more. And thanks for the introduction to his work!
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Thanks, Sunshine! He has some serious chops. Truly gifted.
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The way it comes together feels like glancing, like how one would looking for things in the mirror.
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Thanks, Benji. Mirrors are such interesting objects!
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There is a sense of achievement in being featured by Jose.
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Oh, yes. He is a “serious character,” as Pound would say.
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I feel like my mirror is commenting on your mirror today…perhaps it’s true, as I told Merril, that we are becoming characters in each others’ musings. If I am channeling you, that is definitely a good thing! (K)
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Perhaps we’re all reflecting each other!
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a network of mirrors…
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Oh, the way the light catches us!
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and thanks for turning me on to Jose’s blog!
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You’re very welcome. Jose is quite the poet.
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Had the opportunity to revisit your poetry today – and follow a new blog. Thanks Robert!
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Thanks, DeanJean! I’ve spent many hours reading Jose’s writing. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much.
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I will! Looking forward to more goodness from his blog…
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You’ll find it.
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I like his approach, the way he has seamlessly sewn the third poem to the first two.
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His poetry is pretty seamless, too. Much to admire in it.
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That’s great, a wonderful ‘seeing’ of these three poems. And wonderful poems. Having lost our (grown) son last year, the adaptation particularly speaks to me and makes the mirror poem resonate even more.
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Thank you, Belinda. I am so sorry for your loss.
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me too (just quietly) thank you
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You write well!
followed!
I’m new to this site and so happy i finally get to share my thoughts and words to others!
if you ever wanna check them out that would be very much appreciated!
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Thanks very much. I’ll be certain to visit your blog.
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Thanks! That means a lot!!
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