kamikaze

• beatrice garland

  japan known as land of the rising sun

  shaved head given to kamikaze pilots

  kamikaze means divine wind

  mostly 20 year old pilots

  flew aircraft into the enemy

  highly destructive but successful

  if pilots returned they were shunned from society
• her father embarked at sunrise
• a samurai sword in the cockpit, a shaven head full of powerful incantations and enough fuel for a one way journey into history
• little fishing boats strung out like bunting
• arcing in swathes like a huge flag
• flashing silver as their bellies swivelled toward the sun
• bringing their fathers boat safe - yes grandfathers boat - safe
• and thought he came back / my mother never spoke again / in his presence
• the neighbours too, they treated him as though he no longer existed
• only we children still chatted and laughed / till gradually we too learned to be silent
• this was no longer the father we loved
• he must have wondered

  which had been the better way to die
• 6-7 line stanzas

  show strict national expectations
• free verse and enjambment

  shows soldiers want to break free