A room of My Own: Immigration Gembun

Re-Homing in the Maple Land, XLII

A new life in this promised land of milk and honey, where my veil of forgetfulness drapes like a shroud.

shoppers come and go

“I used to be” in the folds

of my Walmart smile

FYI: The "folds of one's smile," clinically known as nasolabial folds, are the natural creases in the skin running from the sides of the nose down to the corners of the mouth... Over time, these folds can become deeper and permanently visible (static lines) due to various factors, including:

Natural aging: The skin loses collagen and elastin, proteins that provide structure and elasticity.

Repetitive facial expressions: Frequent smiling and laughing reinforce the creases in the skin.

And this gembun could be read as a sequel to my tanka prose below:

The Point of No Return

On the day of my emigration to Canada, a land of maple leaves and snowflakes that will eventually bury my past.

a parting

of summer clouds

mother

lets go of my hand

. . . and of my heart

Ribbons, 16:1, Winter 2020

Added:

new immigrant’s gaze

raindrops on maple branches

laced with snowflakes

Added: written in response to Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting

One candlelight flickers, defining and defying the gathering dark.

mass shooting news ...

another Hanukkah candle

glows on

FYI: During the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights (evening of Sun, Dec 14 -- Mon, Dec 22, 2025), an additional candle is lit each night, until all eight are burning on the final night. 

Added:

talk of war

a mourning dove fades

with the last light

Added:

more war news ...

on the power line

a mob of crows