Hinotama

The ball of light rose piteously
in the west

and lingered in space

Children
stood together   after dinner

and watched the ball of light pronounce
long syllables

The children were meant to remember it
reconnect with it
grow old with it,

grow dreams over
the imprint they made
of what they left behind

a bitter yet beautiful
endangerment of life

Source: Poetry (September 2023)