Poems
Translated as “Phantom House” by Miryam Sas
Translated as “Illusory Home” by Sawako Nakayasu
幻の家
A chef grips the blue sky. The four fingers leave their marks,
and a chicken’s blood gradually flows. Even here the sun is crushed.
Jailer of the sky who comes to visit. Sees the sunlight break into a run.
A white, empty house in which no one lives.
People’s lengthy dreams, circling this house again and again,
weakened like flower petals.
Death slowly clings to my finger. It peels off the husks of night
one layer at a time.
This house continues on a dazzling road toward distant memories of
distant worlds.
A chef clutches the blue sky. Four fingerprints are left; gradually
the chicken bleeds. Even here the sun is crushed.
Wardens of the sky who come inquiring. I see daylight take off running.
An empty white house where no one lives.
The long dreams of people encircled this house many times, then
wilted like flower petals.
Death deliberately clings to my finger. Peeling off the shell of night,
one layer at a time.
This house connects a brilliant road to the distant memory of
a distant world.
料理人が青空を握る。四本の指あとがついて、次第に鶏が血をながす。ここでも太陽はつぶれてゐる。
たづねてくる空の看守。日光が駆け出すのを見る。
たれも住んでないからつぽの白い家。
人々の長い夢はこの家のまはりを幾重にもとりまいては花弁のやうに衰へてゐた。
死が徐ろに私の指にすがりつく。夜の殻を一枚づつとつてゐる。
この家は遠い世界の遠い思ひ出へと華麗な道が続いてゐる。