The Jinmenken

Twas an eerie darkness
In old Japan
Glazed eyes tired mind
And I began
To imagine things
Magically they
Looked back at us
Like wearisome fae

All Seemed surprised
By us
And one did say
Leave us do
We have no truck
With the likes of you

With pluckiness
A human face
The Jinmenken
The body of a hound
But Of which race

A macaque perhaps
Pray tell
What had we found
A demon could it yet be real
The eternal light
Did now reveal

A frightening unearthly
Sight
Its eyes a gleaming
Through the night
A human face
There was no doubt
And a dog like body
It did flout

ishizuca Hokaishi