Shinto-Buddhism encourages social order
not moral responsibility
and that`s fine as far as it goes
If no one saw it happen, why then
it`s as if it never happened
you are absolved
absolution as a given that may only be undone
by words from an accuser, or by whispers
though it`s a pool shattered into sects and
hidden roots to mirror the folds of Japan`s mountains perhaps
the onus is on social harmony;
As long as we`re party to it together
our family, our corporation
Let us say it never happened
And if you say it did
you`d better have your group together
speaking tightly with resolve
and unconditional fighting spirit;
blood will be drawn
I have never had a religious conversion discussion
with the fervent or pious here,
as one is apt to in the states
To become Buddhist would be to join his family
and would in some sense bind me
to the thousand hidden strings which control
a person`s actions as he moves through life
For the sake of old age and his ancestors` honor,
for the sake of future generations
Would he really give that to me
and could I really take it?
