Green

Everything in this morning's sunlight is green 
except the purple maple tree 
resplendent in its own unique color 
surrounded by a deep verdure penetrating 
my memory this morning for when last I 
gazed over this yard the azaleas had 
not bloomed but now what's left is as faded
as brown oak pollen swelling the gutters
and Japan is still the East as different
from us as the maple is from the oaks
not my Western mind 
which Japan has nonetheless changed 
just as this spring has changed everything

Jack 4/24/13