The Isle of the
Dead
Hissing profound
mist shrouds the boat
Creaking of oar is
engulfed by the void
No sun in the sky
– only dark cloud
Lap, lap... sways
the water.
Boat rocks,
carrying souls without hope
Their lifeless
eyes stare at distance
Faceless ferryman
smiles at these ghosts
Lap, lap... sways
the water.
To the wordless
song of a lost deranged psyche
Dances the stray
melancholic spirit
Regretting
suicides drown helplessly
Lap, lap... sways
the water.
Endless cloud
hangs from the sky
The sky glows red
like a dull lead
Water reflects the
bloodstained colour
Lap lap... sways the water.
Sun shines
divinely far, far away
Life’s transient
memory beams through the rift
As souls cling
onto precious old memories
Lap, lap... sways
the water.
The faceless
ferryman shatters the dream
His ruthless
laughter echoes through the mist
Mist deepens its
embrace – and everything’s calm.
Lap, lap... sways
the water...
Merciless one-way
ferry soon ends its journey
Cold mist clears
to reveal a black forest
Ferryman turns
back, and all is veiled in mist...
Lap, lap... sways
the water.
© Seiki Ryu 2001