These poems were originally published on Wild Court in March 2022. Susumu The sun beat down on Tokyo intensely:Forty-five in the shade. The matsu treeStretched out across Susumu’s back garden,Providing relief from the scorching heat. Susumu’s dad had finally convincedHim to have the minor operation:Yarinasai, he’d growled, don’t be a coward –Susumu was frightened but…

Photo by S. Tsuchiya on Unsplash           Susumu   The sun beat down on Tokyo intensely: Forty-five in the shade. The matsu tree Stretched out across Susumu’s back garden, Providing relief from the scorching heat. Susumu’s dad had finally convinced Him to have the minor operation: Yarinasai, he’d growled, don’t be a…