Japan
Sakura Serenade in Spring
Sakura Serenade in Spring
Cherry petals drift—
Millie's ears perk. Stop.
Her nose twitches, pleased.
We wander winding paths, her paws
Padding soft. Silence.
Blossoms burst!
Pink and white clouds aloft.
Okawa's waters whisper,
Wind. Castle walls
Climb and shine. Millie's eyes,
Bright and wise, they scan—
Halt.
Her tail wags time to Spring's
New theme.
Sakura scents swirl,
Sweet and—
Strong. Millie sniffs, savoring
Each note of the
Song. We climb stone steps,
Worn smooth by—
Time it stops.
Her loyal presence,
A comfort sublime.
At the summit,
Breathless. Awed.
Beauty blooming,
History thawed.
Millie sits, sentinel—
Pause.
Cherry-tinged winds
Around us glide.
Down by the river,
Petals float. Like tiny
Pink-hued fairy—
Boats! Millie splashes,
Playful and free.
Her joy infectious,
Pure glee.
In this foreign land,
Familiar love.
My canine companion,
Gift from—
Above. Together we witness
Spring's grand display,
In Osaka's embrace,
This perfect—
Day.
This is essentially the same poem as my previous entry, “Sentinel of Spring”. However, in this version of the poem, I am trying something new: I am using abrupt changes in rhythm and metre to emulate the dissonance in Stravinsky’s famous Le Sacre du Printemps. I hope that comes across with more initial acceptance than he received. 
If you have been paying attention, you will know how obsessed I am with that piece!
Sentinel of Spring.
Sentinel of Spring.
Cherry petals drift on Osaka's breeze,
Millie's ears perk, her nose twitches, pleased.
We wander winding paths, her paws padding soft,
As blossoms burst in clouds of pink and white aloft.
Okawa's waters whisper and wind,
Reflecting castle walls that climb and shine.
Millie's eyes, bright and wise, scan the scene,
Her tail wags time to Spring's new theme.
Sakura scents swirl, sweet and strong,
Millie sniffs, savoring each note of the song.
We climb stone steps, worn smooth by time,
Her loyal presence, a comfort sublime.
At the summit, we pause, breathless, awed,
By beauty blooming, history thawed.
Millie sits, sentinel at my side,
As cherry-tinged winds around us glide.
Down by the river, petals float,
Like tiny pink-hued fairy boats.
Millie splashes, playful and free,
Her joy infectious, pure glee.
In this foreign land, familiar love,
My canine companion, gift from above.
Together we witness Spring's grand display,
In Osaka's embrace, this perfect day.