Floating World and other stories.

(I'd thought this'd be an interesting experiment. Instead of just writing poetry from my point of view, this'll be from the view of Jia and future characters. I kinda want to see how this will play out. Well, I hope you enjoy this!)

Spoiler:

Spring Stranger

The children run like ants against their hill
collecting and scurrying around.
They run faster when they see me.
I am not a monster; but I know
that their elders have warned them of strangers.
In their eyes, I'm no different from an ogre.

In the clearing, I spot a young girl.
She's braver than the rest, I can tell.
Children all want to be someone.
This one wants to be the hero.
She steps out. All long hair and braids.
Her eyes are sharp and dark.
I wonder who shares those eyes with her?

I crouch down to meet her small frame, she speaks first.
"Are you a killer? A liar? Come to burn our homes with fire?"
I think for a while, her words stirring strong feelings in me.
"Now, why would you say that? I only come to pass through."
Her eyes search mine. For death. Some darkness. Violence?

I have an idea. I take some parchment from my knapsack, and fold it into a flower.
She is surprised.
Her eyes finally light up.
She is excited.
The other children come to see.
At the end of day, I made a thousand cranes that afternoon.
And when I started to leave, she of all the children start to cry.
Her brown eyes plead me to stay.

But I cannot. I pat her head, and give her a crane, instead.
And when I leave, she is the loudest, "Farewell, spring stranger!"
I smile as I disappear to the wilds.