Koi no yokan,
how a language
that even when exhaled
in whispers
brings to mind
lightly breathed scolding
with tight consonants
and tense-strung vowels
buzzing and stinging ears
with razored half notes
that this language
can speak gently
such recognition
through small mouths
this large feeling
of I know you
without words spoken
or smiles traded
how, past eyes
spirit knows its twin
untranslatable
there is a phrase for it
and it should be shouted
when we find it
in any language
***for the dVerse poetry prompt: Logophilia 2
Koi No Yokan (Japanese)
The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
oo now that is a cool feeling…and did not know there was a word for that…but i know it…smiles…how the spirit knows its twin…nice…
🙂 thanks, Brian. Out of all those words and phrases, this is the one that tugged my muse. Glad you enjoyed it.
I love how you use the language to evoke the language. Your first stanza is gorgeous. It reminded me of how – not knowing the languages at all – Greek or Italian conversations all sounds like an argument, or even a fight sometimes.
Thanks 🙂
I have often thought it funny that you can call someone a total idiot in French or Spanish, and it sounds like a caress, while in other languages saying something sweet sounds like an insult 🙂
Oh, that phrase struck me too :). It really is gorgeous how you immersed poetry in it and your short lines provide the perfect architecture. Beautiful!
Anna, thank you so much. Loved the article and the prompt–otherwise, this would never have been born 🙂
Thanking you so much!
There’s a useful word! And shows the power of word to explain or create
It certainly does! What a great prompt Anna came up with this week.
I like that word…great explanation of that feeling of recognition between souls ~
http://a-sweetlust.blogspot.ca/2012/07/a-burst-of-fire.html
It is so true…we can totally berate someone in French, and if the intonation is soft, the recipient would thank you. And yet, I can hear the words ‘koi no yokan’ and somehow now that this is a promise whispered on the wind…
That’s what it is… A promise. Here, I always thought French was the language of the romantics… Turns out it was Japanese all along 🙂
Lol – as long as no one is angry, then it gets a little harsher-sounding..
🙂
This is so romantic. I love the Japanese expression: Koi No Yokan Beautiful 🙂
Yes, it should be shouted. Lovely poem
Thanks so much! Appreciate the comment. And, yes, I probably belong in a 12-step program for romantics.
Well…you had me at Koi. 🙂 I wasn’t aware of this phrase, so I’ll watch and listen for it now. It is a sort of premonition of love at first sight, neh? Knowing that you’ll love someone just from that first confrontation of souls. I’ve had this and want it again. Lovely, lovely writing.
Yes, Yousei–the knowledge that you will fall in love with someone versus falling directly into it, I THINK…either way, the concept and the description enthralled me. Sealing my lips on whether I have had this or currently have it, ‘cuz I certainly would hate to jinx it 🙂
Thanks so much for liking this!
Lovely, lovely… I liked how this made me feel… and definitely beautiful ..
“how, past eyes
spirit knows its twin
untranslatable”
I’m happy I found this.
Thank you so much!
Excellent word to explore–love the way you made me hear it and then feel the exuberance at the end.
Thanks 🙂
Exuberance is a great way to describe that bubbling over in the last stanza.
How beautifully written, and a phrase previously unknown to me … thank you … delightful
Thanks so much, Polly. Glad you liked.
Beautiful! And so cool to know there is a language that can put that feeling into words 🙂
Thanks, David. I agree. Hey–are we neighbors, of a sort?
Neighbors of a sort? I don’t know, but that would be pretty cool. Where are you?
Western New York–thought you mentioned something about that in my Lackawanna piece 🙂
Yeah, I guess we are sort of neighbors 🙂 . I’m in Allegany County.
🙂 yes, it is. So howdee neighbor!
“this large feeling
of I know you
without words spoken
or smiles traded”
My favorite 🙂
Thanks, Douglas 🙂
Nice feeling here.
Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
Beautiful. Very nice flow to the words. They read like music to me. 🙂
Thank you, Gretchen 🙂
I wasn’t surprised when I read the translation in the tagline at the end–your poem expressed the phrase beautifully. We do need such a phrase in every language!
Thank you Julie! Interesting that only one language has the phrase for what seems to be a universal feeling 🙂
your poem suits the lovely concept =)
Thank you so much, Lucy.
Uniqueness is such a dear thing, to be hugged and cheered and celebrated to the heavens.
Absolutely it is! Thanks for commenting 🙂
dig this one susan with its romance dripping:)
Thanks, Don–as for the dripping romance–LOL, I know! Somebody stop me 🙂
This reminds of Haruki Murakami for some reasons I don’t know if he ever talked about it in any of his novels, but he’s a writer I recommend.
It’s so true what you said about French and saying you are an idiot like it’s a caress, I have a hard translating my feelings the same way in English, but it’s always fun to try though.
🙂 yes, it is fun to try–and, reading you, I would say you succeed very, very well. I will check our Murakami–sounds like someone I would enjoy reading! If we could so easily translate our feelings, would we write poetry?
That’s so true. Since I have been writing poetry, I have a hard time answering “how are you?” with simply”fine”, I almost wish whoever asked had the time to sit down and listen to my complicated answer given to him/her in free verse but people rather have the short answer lol
🙂 Joe, I feel you!
Very Faura~ Dolly suite Op. 56, Beracuse You will like it read with this composition.
Cool–thanks, Deb!