In nineteen-forty-five, the Army sent me to Japan,
To fight the war, to defend the U.S.A.
I longed to see the friendly face of family and friends,
And prayed to God I’d live to see that day.

When furlough came, I traveled into town to get a beer,
With buddies, who were lonesome just like me.
The barracks we all lived in left a lot to be desired,
And Lord knows we lacked female company.

That evening after celebrating freedom for a day,
We decided on a bathhouse and some tea,
To ease our weary bodies and relax for just a while,
To forget about how lonely war can be.

We sat around a table, after soaking for an hour,
Crossing lanky legs, while seated on the floor.
When from behind a soshi screen, a Geisha girl
appeared,
With tea and cups set on her tray, prepared for her to pour.

Her tiny fingers served my tea, while kneeling on a mat
Her perfect face was painted snowy white.
Her silk kimono wrapped around her body like a glove,
Her raven hair was black as the Asian nights.

A flower blossom fragrance filled the room when she was gone,
She came and went and never made a sound,
The intrigue of this lovely little creature, took my
breath,

As she smiled at me, before she turned around.
A graceful bow to enter and another when she left,
For a short time I for got about the war.
I didn’t know the proper way to ask her for a date,

Or if she was still there behind the door.
I’ll never fully understand the magic of that day,
Or why my memory holds on to that scene.
She fills my nights with fantasies of Oriental love,
With torrid passions lasting years, but only in my dreams.

COPYRIGHT1999 BONNIE TORRENTE