The Tourist by bmac62

Writers • Atmosphere/Mood • posted on Mar 24, 2009

Open full image in new tab Zoom on image

Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.

Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.

Description

The Tourist Waikiki Beach, 8 am, 7 December, Nineteen hundred and NINETY one A historic tour we scheduled just for fun We gathered at the museum's front door Just our group Nobody more A coastal artillery emplacement Among the hotels right down on the beach Reinforced concrete for two 14 inch guns WWII Mission: Protect the harbor, the ships and the shore While the curator rattled the keys in the lock A frail, old Japanese tourist joined our flock Hawaiian shirt and narrow brimmed hat He spoke no English, I remember that I nodded toward the tourist The curator just smiled A self guided tour No public 'til ten We can go where we want I'll wander 'til then I looked at one exhibit, two, three, maybe four Then a room seemed to beckon me come Going there quickly I stepped through the door Photographic murals Covering the walls ceiling to floor Six carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy Afloat on the sea Please pronounce their names slowly with me Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku I was a bit shocked The fleet was an awesome sight And there stood that same frail, old tourist In the very dim light He faced me With a tear stained cheek We could exchange not a word No explanation could I seek He pointed to a young sailor Way up on the bridge He lightly tapped his chest And deeply bowed at the waist I came to attention And slowly gave a salute For it was him that day Under the rising sun His carrier's mission: Attack Pearl Harbor 8 am, 7 December, Nineteen hundred and FORTY one 3/22/09 ...... True Story ...... Forgiveness and reconciliation? ...... A Park Ranger at the Arizona Memorial asked me later that day, "Why do you think he cried?" ...... Answer from the Ranger, "Many Japanese veterans come here and cry. They view the attack on Pearl Harbor as the beginning of a national tragedy for their homeland and people. ...... Thank you for stopping by, Bill

Comments (26)

)

beachzz

1:32AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

This is beautifully told--very real, very poignant. Your rhyming works so well, the rhythm feels very natural. But most of all, you bring this man to life, make him almost visible so we can see his tears. Bravo!!

)

cfulton

1:49AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Thank You. I am battling to read this now, my vision blurred. Thank You.

)

durleybeachbum

3:23AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

This moved me to tears, Bill.

)

fredster66

4:00AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Very moving Bill. Fine work.

)

anahata.c

4:38AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

holy cow...we have no idea where you're taking us, then: Whoosh! Very powerful bill, very touching, and all the moreso because it really happened (and apparently happens a lot). Amazing that this man was actually in that picture, just amazing...You walk us into this with all kinds of rhythms & beats, you use rhyme all over and in varied ways, sometimes line to line, sometimes every other, sometimes stanza to stanza, it's a subtle dance. Then you end with the simplest quatrains, which makes it all come down to essentials. (If you don't know it, read "In Memory of W.B. Yeats," by W.H. Auden: After varying forms, he ends in simple rhymed-quatrains, and it brings us down to a very touching elegy.) Powerful & beautiful, this makes one grateful. Fine work Bill.

)

timtripp

7:16AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

poignant

)

tennesseecowgirl

7:19AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Simply beautiful words... I can remember visiting the Arizona memorial when I first visited Hawaii, and you can not stand there and not feel moved you can not read the names on the wall and not be moved to tears, as you imagine all the lives that were lost that morning and all the lives that changed forever that moment and that day forward. This is very impressive, I hope your words will inspire some others here to be tourist.. to go and visit these wonderful historic places that are forever tributes to us all.

PD154

8:35AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Good job Bill, well done

)

LovelyPoetess

9:08AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Excellent telling of your (and his) experiences. Bravo!!! : )

)

kansas

9:23AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

What an emotional experience. Well written and memorable.

)

moonrancher

9:29AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Well told. Fifty years to the day. Wow. I could see him, up there a younger version, and in front of us a shell of that man.

)

debbielove

9:30AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

No witty comments, Bill. None needed. Story that says it all. Happens all over the globe. London, Kent, France, Pearl Harbour, Germany......Forgiveness? Most likely... Well done, my friend. Rob.

)

drace68

11:38AM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Thank you, Bill. You've lived with this scene a while. Good to get it out and into print.

)

artaddict2

12:18PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

what a story Bill, what else is there to say, very moving! Excellent!

)

THROBBE

12:20PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Great poem and story Bill! A turning point in history remembered...........

)

Richardphotos

2:08PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

superb writing Bill and an attention getter

)

JaneEden

3:17PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Bill this is an amazing elegy, very powerful and extremely moving, I read it twice and then once more and each time it touched me. Your words are indeed very touching and I can tell by the way you wrote them that the visit will haunt you forever! hugs Jane xx

proteus2

4:16PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

... P

)

bronwyn_lea

6:04PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Bill,this gave me chills. Beautiful words and so touching. I went to Pearl Harbor as a child and I remember visiting the USS Arizona and the entire experience as if it was yesterday. I do not remember as much of the rest of our trip but never forgot how it felt to visit Pearl Harbor. Beautiful!

)

npauling

7:16PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

A very emotional work, beautifully written.

)

auntietk

9:03PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

My friend, I have read your poem four times since this morning, and each time it has moved me to tears. His bow and your salute paint a wonderful picture of respect and healing, soldier to soldier, across battle lines and across time. Even talking to you about this before hand didn't prepare me for the emotional impact. A spectacular piece of writing ...

)

goodoleboy

9:44PM | Tue, 24 March 2009

Great poetry, beautifully written, and poignant, but sorry, I could never salute anyone who participated in a sneak attack, no matter their remorse. I'm not that forgiving, maybe because I was alive and bitterly aware on that fateful day when this occurred.

)

junge1

1:19AM | Wed, 25 March 2009

Bill, I just about cried myself reading this. I have seen Japanese tourists at American memorials and I have seen tears in their eyes. When I went to Normandy I stood at several locations, Point du Hoc and the American and German Cemeteries, just to mention a few and reflected on the past and mankind. Great poem!!!

)