Poem
Masayo Koike
Falling Star
Above our headsA star fell
A strong bluish star
Like the moment when for the first time
A man uses his instrument dripping with ink
The star swiftly disappears a blur into the sky
During then
All we could do was
To forget to wish
Just surprised, as if for the first time
The night air as if enveloping in a sphere
The void after it was lost to sight
(Among the night trees a solemn sound grown by the rhythm)
Ah, what a
Daring wheel-track traced by the star!
It was
Like a stake silently driven into us
Remain on the earth and live!
Live, said the star!
© Translation: 2006, Leith Morton
From: Masayo Koike: Selected Poems
Publisher: Vagabond Press, Sydney, 2006
From: Masayo Koike: Selected Poems
Publisher: Vagabond Press, Sydney, 2006
流星
流星
わたしたちの頭上を星が流れた
力強く青ざめた星が
墨汁をたっぷり含んだ筆を
初めておろした瞬間のように
すばやく空ににじみ消え去った星
そのあいだ
わたしたちにできたことは
願うことも忘れて
ただ、新鮮に驚くことだけだった
見失ったあとの空洞を
まるく、つつむようにやってきた夜気
(夜の木のなかで韻律が育つ厳粛な音がする)
ああ、なんと
野太い軌跡をたどった星だろう
あれは、わたしたちに
静かに打ち込まれた杭のようなもの
地上にとどまって生きよ
生きよ、と。
© 2001, Masayo Koike
From: Ameotoko, Yamaotoko, Mame o hiku otoko
Publisher: Shinchosha, Tokyo
From: Ameotoko, Yamaotoko, Mame o hiku otoko
Publisher: Shinchosha, Tokyo
Poems
Poems of Masayo Koike
Close
Falling Star
Above our headsA star fell
A strong bluish star
Like the moment when for the first time
A man uses his instrument dripping with ink
The star swiftly disappears a blur into the sky
During then
All we could do was
To forget to wish
Just surprised, as if for the first time
The night air as if enveloping in a sphere
The void after it was lost to sight
(Among the night trees a solemn sound grown by the rhythm)
Ah, what a
Daring wheel-track traced by the star!
It was
Like a stake silently driven into us
Remain on the earth and live!
Live, said the star!
© 2006, Leith Morton
From: Masayo Koike: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Vagabond Press, Sydney
From: Masayo Koike: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Vagabond Press, Sydney
Falling Star
Above our headsA star fell
A strong bluish star
Like the moment when for the first time
A man uses his instrument dripping with ink
The star swiftly disappears a blur into the sky
During then
All we could do was
To forget to wish
Just surprised, as if for the first time
The night air as if enveloping in a sphere
The void after it was lost to sight
(Among the night trees a solemn sound grown by the rhythm)
Ah, what a
Daring wheel-track traced by the star!
It was
Like a stake silently driven into us
Remain on the earth and live!
Live, said the star!
© 2006, Leith Morton
From: Masayo Koike: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Vagabond Press, Sydney
From: Masayo Koike: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Vagabond Press, Sydney
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