Aokigahara

I followed the trail Past your dust Covered Subara, The passenger seat Littered with maps, Into the Sea Of Trees. Past the sign that read: “Your life is a precious gift” In Katakana, To a dropped compass Pointing south, And another east, Both pointing to Mount Fuji. I followed the red Tape, your favorite color, Through the chasms Of emptiness, crunching leaves The only sounds for a kilometer.

I came upon your shoes first. The Timberlands you bought On vacation in California, Then your jeans worn By weather and time, Then your jacket, The one I bought you Before you left for university An arm grasping Kanzen Jisatsu Manyuaru1 I said a prayer, And wept to myself. I followed the red Tape back down Through the haunted Forest, wondering If this tape was meant for Me to find you? Or you to find Your way home.

1 The Complete Manual of Suicide written by Wataru Tsurumi