Yokohama

by Clemens Starck

Wondering why not a single plum tree grew

in the holy compound of the Ise Shrine,

Bashō was told

there was no special reason . . .

Hot night on Isezaki Street.

Big yellow moon.

Storefront TV. After six full innings Tokyo

leads Hiroshima, 5 to 3.

What is this anyway? Japanese bartenders look

like American bartenders.

Sonuvabitch! Drunk in Yokohama

and Bashō isn’t here.

From China Basin, Ashland, Oregon: Story Line Press, 2002, page 50.