Ten Days of R&R in Japan

Haikumania War Crimes Project follows Ty Hadman from the Vietnam battle-zone to some leave in Japan with "Ten Days of R&R in Japan" presented in eight haiku. - Paul Conneally  TEN DAYS OF R&R IN JAPAN R&R: Rest & Recuperation during the Vietnam war.   En route to Japan; for the first time in a year I'm without my rifle Tokaido Station: just in time, I hop aboard the bullet train She knows no English, I know no Japanese, we share a pot of tea One of about 20 girls who waited patiently for over 2 hours for me to finish my zazen meditation. As I sit in a full-lotus, a Japanese tourist snaps a photograph! Of me! The Zen master's steady drumbeat .... . . thoughts diminish Golden Pavilion: an exchange of smiles takes place on the quiet path This is the same Zen temple as described in Yukio Mishima's world famous novel, The Temple of the Golden Pavillion. New Year's Eve Buddhist temple: I spend the evening learning a new way to pray Arms filled with gifts: I'm unable to wave goodbye so I bow instead

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