Flute (Ro)

Today’s piece was inspired after reading Robert Okaji’s wonderful poem “Ro”, please go and visit his fantastic poetry site by clicking on this link >> https://robertokaji.com/2022/11/11/ro-5/

Note: Ro designates the fingering required to produce a particular note on the shakuhachi, the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. In this case, closing all holes.

Feature Image Above: With the kind permission of Robert Okaji, the image was copied from his post “Ro”

Flute (Ro)

the melody lingers

beyond soft fingers

above the hollow

a note was borrowed

by the former mentor

you are not the lamenter

please return

to the aspiring sender

Ivor Steven (c) November 2022