Nakajin Castle (Nakijin-jo) ruins are in the Nago region of Okinawa. Many Uchinanchu go there to pray at shrines on the ruins site. I have visited there several times and have also prayed there. My visits inspired me to compose the following poem.
At Nakajin
At Nakajin I climb the stairs,
Ancient stone steps from days gone by.
Of their history I’m unaware,
As to how many fought here and died.
At Nakajin I climb to see
Beyond the stairs to what is there.
I wonder what the future be
For Kingdom fallen in ill repair.
At Nakajin cannot see the past,
Or beyond to times yet to come.
I climb and wonder how long she’ll last
In the Land of the Rising Sun.
At Nakajin I ache through the climb,
Struggling to reach the stairway top.
Seeing senior stone structures so sublime,
Gives me pause where I must stop.
At Nakajin I go on after rest,
Ascend the steps to reach their end.
Of mystery above I only guess,
With beauty lost in time to mend.
At Nakajin upon the top I gaze
To find ruins of Kingdom once great
I dream of Samurai through the haze,
Who lived their code through love and hate.