Wither and wilt, wandering,
God met Her retainer:
Manju of petals scattering,
He whose love would tame Her.

The Goddess watched over the leaves
Of sacred Lycoris.
Two enamored with each other,
Falling to their hubris.

The god, She loved this human man -
Forbidden, it may be -
And over time She grew disdain
For Her divinity.

While his petals, they did wither,
Her leaves, they did not wilt.
She gazed upon her aging love
Amassing endless guilt.

Manju, cursed with mortality,
His fate they did abhor.
Longing to stay by each other,
The laws they would ignore.

The spider lily blossoming,
White petals painted red -
Wiry spirals entangling
Which signify the dead.

The god picked dear Manju’s flower,
Fearful for his life’s end -
Unaware of the price they’d pay
To ensure rules would bend.

Spill first the blood of fair goddess,
Bestow it on the Earth -
Its spirits there entangle him
Ensuring his rebirth.

Though saddened when his life did end
She would keep Her patience.
Saka, She failed to weigh the price,
Sure in Her complacence.

The cruel cycle started anew,
God met Her retainer.
Manju of petals scattering,
He whose love had tamed Her.

Upon him gifts She did bestow,
Treat him familiarly;
Without acknowledging Her love
He received selfishly.

Slow realization dawned on Her
And Saka, She did weep,
For Manju, though he lived once more,
His memories did sleep.

Wither and wilt, wandering,
The goddess walked alone
Seeking his forgotten love, but
This sin She can’t atone.