I made a Japanese lantern
With fabric of multiple dyes,
ribs divided like Saturn,
a globe halved by rings in the skies.
Should I float it upon the smooth river?
Sail spirit helloes bye-the-byes?
Risk nibbles submerged as I shiver?
Cold fishes with multiple eyes?
The candle I placed at its center
controling its life till it dies,
illumines arenas it enters―
silk weavings, its darling disguise.
But lift from the flame and the flicker
said, "Escape, fly away to new highs.
Come with me, sip a new liquor~
from vapors of earth let us rise."
We passed by a star glowed and marbled.
Dimmer be we, loosed our ties.
Endless dark gasp as we marveled
with no oxygen left for our sighs.
Forego a Japanese lantern
that whispers forever―unwise.
Silk robes bared the slopes of a slattern,
florid beauty faded to lies.