Yokai
Skin of scintillating scales that mantle a lithesome frame.
Prismatic scutes adorn its hide in colours with no name.
A mane of iridescent flame from nape, along the spine.
Graceful claws on dexterous paws in silvered ivory shine.
Diaphanous sharp spined fins
Ride the tail behind the wings.
Majesty in all its limbs.
The crown, a crest of rugged horns. The fanged filled jaws sublime.
Long flowing whiskers, golden eyes, the symbols of its reign.
It hears the call, it flies again.
Unbound it leaps from cloud to cloud then plunges to the sea
Then rising, rides the foamy swells that greet the estuary.
Thrashing coils the flow become, within river current glides.
Invisibly beneath the calm, silently upstream slides.
Till river meets sewer spill,
Clambering a concrete hill
Into air both stale and still.
From darkened windscreen, puddles gaze, and building's mirrored sides,
Swimming in reflections fast, unheard, unfelt, and yet not free.
Its perfumed passing, feathery.
When empty rooms grew vast and void with you alone inside,
It wrapped around you, filled the space, and soothed you as you cried.
When love's sweet flower grew sick and sour, tears would not end,
It lent its heart until yours healed, and slowly helped it mend.
When pain was sharp, it was there.
When bullies strike, its teeth bare.
When hurt or scared, it will care.
Standing vigil as you begged agony and grief to end.
It listened to the hated secrets that shame makes you hide
Whispering to restore your pride.
How can I say this thing exists with such strong conviction.
What makes me sure this is more than just a pleasant fiction.
They once were more in times before our doubt pulled down a veil
Till one by one their time was done, reduced to fairy-tale.
Yet I know that one remains
Standing guard to fight the banes.
Tearing at our hidden chains.
So, if you ever come across a strange pearlescent scale,
Dare to let yourself dream in the face of contradiction.
For hope is a kind affliction.
@BastionKnight Hey Knight, What a beautifully vivid and imaginative piece! The way it blends the mythical with the real is just stunning. I love the contrast between the majestic creature and the gritty, modern world it moves through. This poem is a remarkable fusion of myth and emotion, drawing from the concept of yokai, in Japanese folklore. What’s unique here is how the mythical creature transcends its traditional role, not just as a figure of fear or mystery, but as a symbol of hope and resilience. The way it moves through both natural and urban spaces—gracefully shifting from clouds to rivers, then to the concrete jungle—mirrors the fluidity of hope, which exists in both moments of beauty and the harshness of reality. The creature’s silent, almost invisible presence, offering solace in times of pain, taps into a deep, universal need for unseen support. The final line, “hope is a kind affliction,” offers a profound twist, suggesting that hope, like the yokai, is both a comfort and a burden. It’s a fresh, poignant take on an ancient myth, grounded in emotional truth and modern sensibilities. Lovely writing! (It also reminded me of Haku from Spirited Away. So thank you for that too)
@azurePond
You have described exactly what I was hoping to convey (and I am very flattered that it reminded you of Haku, I take that as a a great compliment). Your thoughtful and generous analysis and comments are very encouraging and It pleases me very much that you have picked up on the subtext.
*Smiles gratefully and extremely pleased*