The Faceless One, 1930, by Rebecca Weigold

Make-Up Outside the Window, by Harue Koga (Japan) 1930

The Faceless One, 1930
 
1. Kao no nai mono. The Faceless One trudges through the steel veins of Tokyo, pushes through noisy markets, aggressive political images, and sleek posters of cruise lines. He roams the drab and cramped alleys, stops to slurp slimy noodles and broth, bows to drunk salarymen passed out on corners. Crowds below board the Ginza Line, the blood that winds through Tokyo's concrete arteries. The squeal of rickshaws, taxis, and buses leave a metallic tang in The Faceless One’s mouth. 
 
2. Yuya. The plucky moga in pink gaudery is a cherry blossom, flaunts a bob and ravishing rouge, hurls tradition on the altar of Gendai-sei. She is nonkina. Wanton. Obstinate. Jovial. Swings her arms and kicks her feet on the lofty edge of progress. 
 
3. The spiritual leave their shamisen and koto, bamboo groves, and torii gates for the port of Yokohama, wave from the Hikawa Maru as it churns toward America. 
 
4. Headlines parachute in: Grave Economic Conditions Grip Japan. The tourists window shop while chaos erupts. Factory workers spill into the streets, protest with the silk spinners. 
 
5. The Faceless One tosses flyers of airships from his window. His work is drudgery. He waves from his window, attempts to arouse the moga’s attention. He is jealous of her unforgettable face. He covets a rescue from steel and iron. He longs to rescue moga from her foolish dance. 
 
6. Militarists play shogi with political leaders, take over their positions. Ships are built. Musicians dust off their taiko drums. 
 
7. The neon dragon sputters and shudders. The cherry blossom tumbles, is crushed under the march of nationalists. 
 
8. A Jizo Bosatsu stands amid twirling pinwheels, red and white chrysanthemums, and faint temple chimes. Its plump stone cheeks hold a mouthful of enlightenment. 
 
9. The Faceless One waves from his window. He covets a rescue.
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Rebecca Weigold
 
Rebecca Weigold studied Theatre and English at Northern Kentucky University. She has held editorial positions at F&W Publications and ITP/Southwestern Educational Publishing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her poetry has been featured in Floating Acorn Review, Haikuniverse, Rat’s Ass Review, Stink Eye Magazine, and others. Her poem, “Thoughts During Taps,” published in The Ekphrastic Review, has been translated into Arabic. Three of her poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Additionally, she is proud to have participated in the renowned Uptown Poetry Slam on multiple occasions, hosted by Marc Smith at the historic Green Mill in Chicago.