Richard Pelletier's Photography Journal

{ writer + photographer }

Family

miyako, san francisco 1978

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miyako tadenuma, san francisco, ca 1978
miyako-san francisco, ca 1978

richard pelletier https://www.snappysan.com

Miyako came to San Francisco in the 1970’s as part of a wave of Japanese women who were emigrating to the States. Many of them, like Miyako, signed up for secretarial school only to find out that the secretarial school was, to a large extent, a sham. Miyako and I lived together for four years – at Alamo Square in San Francisco and then for a period in Oakland.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

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Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Emily Dickinson


Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me – 
The Carriage held but just Ourselves – 
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility – 

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring – 
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – 
We passed the Setting Sun – 

Or rather – He passed us – 
The Dews drew quivering and chill – 
For only Gossamer, my Gown – 
My Tippet – only Tulle – 

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground – 
The Roof was scarcely visible – 
The Cornice – in the Ground – 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –