Saturday, March 31, 2018

"When a man dies..."
by Anna Akhmatova

When a man dies
the portraits of him change.
The eyes have a different look
and the lips smile a different smile.
I noticed this first on coming home
from a certain poet's funeral.
There've been many occasions to check it since.
And I was right.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

SOUND OF THE NIGHT
by Xu Yunuo (translated by Michelle Yeh)

In the dark, lonely night
Nothing is visible,
Only a rustling -- the sound of time eating life.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

"Needles..."
by Daigu Sochiku

Needles pierce my ailing body, and my pain grows greater.  This life of mine, which has been like a disease -- what is its meaning?  In all the world I haven't a single friend to whom I can unburden my soul.  Truly all that appears to the eye is only a flower that blooms in a day.