So Far From the Bamboo Grove
Nov 22, 2014
So Far From the Bamboo Grove
By: Yoko Kawashima Watkins•Tia Patterson•
Chapter 1 Haiku
YokoShe’s called ‘Little One’
In danger and on the runWill she get to Seoul?
KoSixteen and helpful
Must escape with familyCannot give up now
MotherOld and must escape
No husband, no HideyoMust stay strong for kids
HideyoWants to do his part
Joins work with ammunitionLeft alone at work
Chapter 2 Cinquain
All Aboard
TrainHospital train, filled with patients
Whining uncomfortablyHungry and thirsty
Tired
Chapter 4 Tanka
Seoul
At last! Made to SeoulYoko realizes she’s hurt
With family bladeMother must shave off their hairThey’re so close, but yet, so far.
Chapter 5 Quatrain
AloneTheir Mother’s family is long gone
Under stress, Mother’s life was withdrawn
Ko and Yoko, all aloneTo sell there wares, in which they’ve
shown
Chapter 7 Free Verse
Story of Their LifeKo and Yoko had been offered a place to stayIt’s nice and convenient, they didn’t have to pay
But with mother gone, they would finish up schoolBefore they knew it, it was winter, weather’s cool
Doing well academically, the girls all teasedKo and Yoko they were such bullies
Still they couldn’t find their father, or HideyoEven though they posted posters a while ago
Alone in the warehouse, it’s just them twoLiving sparingly on money from shining a shoe
Yoko and Ko have things very toughThe rough gets going and the going gets rough
Chapter 8 Minute Poetry
New Year Is SoonYoko and Ko continue schoolThe girls, still cruelBut they don’t knowWhat Ko won’t show
The New Year is so soon to comeNo food, problemOh what to doWhat will they chew?
Honroable Sister get tea time?Right now’s schooltimeMake money firstFood will soon burst!
Chapter 9 Sedoka
New Year Is Here!
Japanese New Year!Yoko surprised old sis KoGreen tea for the honorable
Oh look at their feastFluffy rice cakes and roast fishEven an orange for mom
Chapter 10-11 MonorhymeFamily
Ko and Yoko along back to realitySadly running out of moneyUsing mother’s money, an emergencyYoko see’s essay contest luckilyWith her wisdom, she enters it bravelyFirst place winner! 10,000 yen whoopee!Corporal Matsumara contacts them quicklyHe’s alive and helps them survive healthyHad to leave, friendship continues stronglyStill living strong and on a healthy (barely)Yoko’s sight gets weak, still she can seeFather and Hideyo, where can they be?Life can’t get worse, they feel sorryUntil they come across another escapeeWho says he’s just on a journeyIt’s Honorable Brother, they’re family!
Chapter 6 Shape Poetry
HideyoHideyo, now an escapee
Is on his way to SeoulNot so close, not so far
Oh no! Soldiers, he must hideUp in a tree, hiding
Will he make it? Patient, quietIts all clear, he can come down
On with his trek, will he survive?Thoughts of happiness
Must see familyMake it through!