Sonnet 29

  • Could you sit down for a moment,
  • I like the heels that you're wearing there,
  • That flip you have in your bangs,
  • Your manner, that style, a seemingly infinite flair.
  • Could you talk about your day,
  • All the thoughts lingering in your head,
  • The fanfare, the plight, the yet-unprocessed delight,
  • Now that the day is calm, this night's affair.
  • Could you be a real, unsparing you,
  • I'd like to hear a song,
  • Don't fret for the rhythm or the lyrics,
  • Your voice is where I want to belong.
  • Could you, would you, please do,
  • Chance a chance to happenstance anew.

Notes

I wrote this about a month ago after stumbling upon a hookah spot (or shisha as the Japanese refer to it) in the Shimokitazawa district of Tokyo. Light sweater/heavy t-shirt weather, a clear, early night, and seated outside facing a small, decently-traversed mostly-pedestrian shop-laden street. I ordered apricot shisha and some salty plum (I think) hot tea, and proceeded to toot away. Ended up chatting briefly with an Egyptian patron about life as an ex-pat in Tokyo, positives and negatives. Later on, my pen and notepad emerged to compose this.

Before I started this piece, I started writing a diary-esque entry which I'll transcribe here:

Can't help but take in what I'm seeing around here with a large reluctant grin and a calm sigh. Very appreciative of the things I'm privy to witness and the gracious folks I'm meeting, cause (undecipherable gibberish)

Then this starts with very few edits/crossed-out words.

Again, no meter or rhyme, but the rhythm is solid; no patience still.

Mostly modeled after casual banter with a stranger and how I'm mostly interested in anything they care to talk about, hoping maybe to stumble upon an interesting facet of their life, even if it may feel inane and colorless to them. I guess at the time, and still so now, I feel like we're all just a collection of experiences tumbling around, strolling by, grazing, bumping, crashing, and enveloping eachother hoping to find some commonality or fit or belonging or jest or peace or glee.

Or something, I'm tired, good night.

Oh and that last line, SO GOOD :).

— Huy on