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- HIMEJI CASTLE
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- by James Bell
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- A boy sits in the shade
- of a cherry tree and sketches
- in hatched charcoal
- on a pad only slightly smaller
than himself
- the image of Himeji Castle.
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- This castle of the white crane
stands before us,
- thrust proud
- from its lush greenery on the
plain
- it still dominates.
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- Soldiers once watched the
scene
- from loop holes
- down the end of a musket
- or an arrow nocked bow.
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- We climb the spiral path
through open gates
- negotiate the angled walk ways
- where defenders could make
surprise attacks -
- pass the squared stones that
lift the fortress.
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- Another day for Himeji
- begins to end
- as neon lights in the
ferro-concrete city
- below flicker on.
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- Muskets and gunpowder, arrows
and bowsin the castle slumber.
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- From the top I notice the boy
has gone.
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