Kaeru*

Each day,
            passing the samosa
and the roses,
            the steady routine
of returning home
            sanding away
the meaning of life
            to the essentials
of comfort,
            of her hand
on my back,
            forehead to forehead,
a smile or a frown
            being the barometer
of sleep,
            of hunger.
This soft comfort,
            precious and rare
in its lavishness,
            pushes our feet
forward and again,
            this connection
that links the nothing
            that ends the night,
that triggers the day,
            to snap back
to the samosas
            and the roses
in the station.

*Japanese verb: “to return (home).”

Daryl Muranaka lives in Boston with his family. In his spare time, he enjoys aikido and taijiquan and exploring his children’s dual heritages. His first book, Hanami, was released by Aldrich Press in April 2015.