Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Shuntaro Tanikawa

Toba 7

With my sulky mouth shut
again I am unjust to words
As my punishment
I hear the ocean tide through the night

I write:
all poetry is empty words
and I continue writing

My child wakes up suddenly in the middle of the night
she sobs quite a while
I want to be honest

Even a dying soldier is not honest
My cigarette ashes fall on my lap
I will not dream now
though I am so sleepy

鳥羽 7

鳥羽 7

口はすねたように噤んだまま
またしても私の犯す言葉の不正
その罰として
終夜聞く潮騒

すべての詩は美辞麗句
そう書いて
なお書き継ぐ

夜半に突然眼を覚まし
ひとしきり啜り泣く私の幼い娘
私は正直になりたい

瀕死の兵士すら正直ではない
煙草の火が膝に落ちる
もう夢を見る事もなかろう
こんなに睡いのだが
Close

Toba 7

With my sulky mouth shut
again I am unjust to words
As my punishment
I hear the ocean tide through the night

I write:
all poetry is empty words
and I continue writing

My child wakes up suddenly in the middle of the night
she sobs quite a while
I want to be honest

Even a dying soldier is not honest
My cigarette ashes fall on my lap
I will not dream now
though I am so sleepy

Toba 7

With my sulky mouth shut
again I am unjust to words
As my punishment
I hear the ocean tide through the night

I write:
all poetry is empty words
and I continue writing

My child wakes up suddenly in the middle of the night
she sobs quite a while
I want to be honest

Even a dying soldier is not honest
My cigarette ashes fall on my lap
I will not dream now
though I am so sleepy
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