Recently arrived,
wide-eyed and awake
well past midnight,

dyssynchronous–
the ginko here
has turned to gold

rain plastering
leaves to cold windows–
it was quite warm still

in Tokyo,
and mostly green
with neon evenings

and the unbelievable
lightness of being
always in transit,

mostly uncomprehending,
empty as a mouth
hanging open in surprise

at some novelty, beauty
requiring no formal translation,
the now familiar clatter

of bells at the shrine,
claps and bows and heady incense,
deer ambling by, unafraid

and observing closely,
silently, unburdened
by speech

so also moving lightly
but with effortless presence,
neither studied

nor imposed–
how often we were told
you are here, you are here,

fish, tide, tree
as subtle cues, landscapes
simplified by rapid passage–

Now, the gray static
of early morning hours,
grainy with data points

and unsettled like weather–
Too much to take in.
Just where am I? And when?