Snow falls on
Village roofs
And forest,
Settling upon
Thatch and
Branch equally
As you walk;
Little Kaede
Bundled up,
Runs ahead
Shouting,
"Hurry! Hurry!"

Jumping,
She tugs
At a branch,
"This one!
This one!"
You indulge her,
Snapping it
Cleanly,
She stuffs it
Into your basket,
"More! More!"
You oblige.

Kikyo
Sent you both
Into the cold
On this
New Year's
Errand,
Getting you
Out from
Underfoot
While preparing
The shrine
For visitors.

No,
You wince-
Kikyo asked you
To pound Mochi.
Sticky rice paste.
Eager to help,
You forgot
What you are,
Took a swing,
Shattering the mortar,
The usu,
In one easy blow.

The villagers stared,
You slunk away,
Broken pieces
Of usu
Left on the
Ground-
Kikyo found you
On her roof,
Facing the wind.
Claws dug
Into the thatch,
Eyes closed.

She coaxed you
Down
With rice cakes
And sake,
Bundling up
Her little sister,
"Go cut
Pine branches
For the front door,"
Shooing you both
Out into
The snow.

Kaede stared
Up at you
Giggling,
As you
Trudged
Hand-in-hand
Into the forest,
Bare feet
Indifferent
To the cold,
Empty basket
On your back.

Kikyo's
Small sister
Now runs ahead
Pointing,
"This one!
This one!"
She slips,
Going down
Face first
Little feet
Sticking
Out of a drift.

Impatient,
You pick her up-
Brushing off
The snow.
She wails,
Head
Buried in
Your hair.
Forgetting
To scold,
You give her
A piggyback ride.

Your mother
Once carried
You like this;
Fine lady
That she was,
No nursemaid
Would help her,
She did it herself
Despite the stares;
Her shame
On her back,
For all to see.

Kaede
Plays with
Your ears
As you walk-
Ears that set you
Apart,
The village
Behind you-
Along with
The stares-
Don't look
Back.

Kaede dozes
You keep walking:
She will grow up,
One day to
Marry,
One day to
Carry
A child on
Her back
As you carry her,
Snow gathering
In your hair.

Pausing
High on a hill,
Staring down
At the village:
Life will
Be simple
For Kaede:
Marriage.
Children.
Belonging.
A quiet life,
But good.

You walk on,
Snow crunching
Beneath
Bare feet-
The village
Behind you,
Small burden
Forgotten-
Light fading,
It's better
This way-
Somehow.

Kaede stirs,
Whimpering
Reminding
You that
Nothing is
Easy-
You turn,
Retracing
Your steps,
Once more
To face
The stares.