Give Leave

I believe in something.
There is another world,
vivid with green ink,
a watercolor that's still wet.
We float above it,
walking on wooden floors that wave in the breeze
like flags faded by the sunlight.
Wouldn't you love
to plant your feet on the solid ground,
to feel the coolness of earth seep into you?
I looked for a place where the worlds were held together,
a long, steel nail sent by a heavy hammer
through the wooden floor, deep into the dark, green earth,
and I found it,
delivered to me as I sat paralyzed:
Nuper Rosarum Flores.
It was then that I knew I would be able to cry.

Summer Illness

My skin is white and clear
and wounds cover it,
small and deep and round,
punctures in the clean, sweaty flesh
These summer months,
something is wrong,
and I can't name it:
the sun batters my eyes closed,
my head aches,
I'm weak.
I gather the strength to rake my eyes
over the strong, young bones,
over the impenetrable muscles;
the hairs and the fat are formidable and lively
So why am I laid low
by a taste of poison,
by a beam of sunlight,
by a memory of the desire for greatness?

Mishima

Because I said to him,
"I know you" --
Because I thanked him
for showing me the filthy truth of his soul --
Because when I saw it,
I clung to him and said,
"I'm glad to meet you" and
"Even though you're evil,
I'm glad that you exist" --
Because I could see in my reflection
what I cannot see in myself--
these echoes come back to me
Thank you

アレクスへ： (To Alex)

I.

和歌

守れない約束
致しました
存じあげて
もちろんおりました。
お女王様
もご存知で
いらっしゃいましたね。
でも拝見
すれば光る
おなりになることが
欲しいですが。
寂しい時、
よくお女王様を
抱きたいです。
思い舟の
下に海に
おなり致したいです。

お落としになりた不注意な賞賛だけが
僕の喜びでした。
お女王様も自己も
お無くし致しますから、
恐ろしいですよ。
どこにお隠れ致しましょうか、
この遊び無しで？
この服従を速くお習い致す
原因が何ですかね？
それで
ここに約束致した和歌があります。
この胸で、
遅く過ぎてすみませんね。

Waka

I made promises I can't keep
I knew it, of course
My Lady also knew it, didn't you?
When I see you, I want to become a shining light, but...
In sad times, I often want to embrace My Lady
I want to become the ocean beneath her heavy boat

Only the careless praise you dropped was my joy
Because I am losing both My Lady and myself,
I am frightened
Where shall I hide without this play?
What is the reason for quickly learning obedience?
So here are the poems I promised
From this heart,
I'm sorry that they're too late

II.

川柳

雑草に
赤い桜は
隠せない

Senryū

In among the weeds
the scarlet cherry blossoms
cannot be hidden

III.

片歌

島だけに
安全がある
でも助けない

Katauta

Only an island
can be a safe place for you,
but no one can save you there

IV.

長歌

詩の時化に
神秘は叱る
芯は霜
士気はしなびる
市に詩人
渋々忍ぶ
心中を
次第に躾ける
自然を凌ぐ

Chōka

A mystery scolds
in a poem's stormy seas
The heart is like frost
and morale withers away
The city poet
still reluctantly endures
The innermost thoughts:
slowly teach them to behave
Go forth and surpass nature

V.

旋頭歌

天才は
天災で死ぬ
もう自信
地震に終わる
きっと誇りは
埃になった

Sedōka

My genius dies
in natural disaster
My self-confidence
is ended by an earthquake
Surely, all my dignity
has become nothing but dust

VI.

短歌

夜は無常
復習の句に
月光しよう
秋分の柿
好天に松

Tanka

Night will surely end
Let's make the moonlight into
a practice haiku
The persimmons of autumn
A pine tree in good weather

(or)

The world is heartless
In revenge's agony,
let's become angry
A summer full of scandal
I see rough weather ahead

VII.

仏足石歌

同系の
姉妹の閥だ
あなたのだ
と思うずっと
幸福に沿う
専制は悪

Bussokusekika

It's an alliance
It's a circle of sisters
Consider it yours
Think of it so forever
Following in happiness
For tyranny is evil

(or)

This my idolized
punishment has ended now
Consider it yours
In surrender
accompanying you there
The beginning of my oath