page 188

Whisky

Sensei, they call him—Master,
on account of his technical perfection

but dealing with Sensei
is like kabuki

under water. Will you
inherit my weakness

for not going there,
for watching the movie instead—

its Sensei, its ramen, its kabuki whisky?
Some people have kabuki in the blood—

let them make the trip, and
send back paper birds,

each explaining one
of Sensei's words.