Yokohama Poem by Suzanne Hayasaki

We went to Yokohama.
We went to see a play.
We went to check up on our boys
To see if they're OK.

First we flew to Haneda.
We took off on a jet.
And stuck there in economy
Some new fun friends we met.

At Haneda we took a bus
Which took us to the city
A harbor town where by the sea
The yachts bob white and pretty.

We ventured out from our hotel
In search of food and drink
And in the maze of shops and stalls
We heard some beer steins clink.

We settled in for ale and song
The eighties tunes were booming.
We drank our fill while sausages
And sauerkraut consuming.

Then weaving back through waving crowds
All weary from their week.
We wandered back to our hotel
With roses in our cheeks.

The next day dawned too early.
The sunshine felt quite bright.
But off we set for Chinatown
To take in all the sights.

The town's a little gaudy.
The crowd's a little young.
And in the streets the vendors hawk
With hale and hearty lungs.

We found fancy restaurant.
We had a glass of wine.
We sampled squid and jellyfish.
On shark fin soup we dined.

Then later in the evening
We rode a crowded train
To see a stage production
Of Singing in the Rain.

And when the play was over
The rain was pouring down
We wandered lost in Shibuya
With puddles all around.

By people we were jostled.
By umbrellas we were pressed.
We followed our intrepid son
Through streets that he knew best.

Finally we found it!
Our shelter from the storm!
We ordered drinks and sushi.
The sake kept us warm.

Then back into the night we went.
Our son said his goodbye.
We found our way back to our room
Where things were warm and dry.

Again the morning beckoned.
Again the sun rose high.
Again we faced the morning
With bags beneath our eyes.

This time our eldest called us
And said that he was free
To join us for some breakfast
To let his parents see

That he was thriving at his job
We had no need to fret.
His eyes were bright, his back was straight,
His jawline it was set.

And so although we parted,
We feel relieved to know
That both our sons can swim like fish
In the sea of Tokyo!