Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Shuntaro Tanikawa

Toba 3

The old woman is looking at the sand as she gathers brushwood
I am looking at the horizon from my hotel window
You, who have lived through hunger,
please go ahead and torture me

I have always lived with my belly full
Even now I am belching
The least I can wish is to deserve your hatred

Old woman, what could my words do for you?
I do not wish to atone for anything any more
What strangles me is what you have in your hand
the horizon you will not look at

I hear Clementi’s sonatina faintly
No one speaks to me
What deep comfort

鳥羽 3

鳥羽 3

粗朶拾う老婆の見ているのは砂
ホテルの窓から私の見ているのは水平線
餓えながら生きてきた人よ
私を拷問するがいい

私はいつも満腹して生きてきて
今もげっぷしている
私はせめて憎しみに価いしたい

老婆よ
もう何も償おうとは思わない
私を縊るのはあなたの手にある
あなたの見ない水平線だ

かすかにクレメンティのソナチネが聞こえる
誰も私に語りかけない
なんという深い寛ぎ
Close

Toba 3

The old woman is looking at the sand as she gathers brushwood
I am looking at the horizon from my hotel window
You, who have lived through hunger,
please go ahead and torture me

I have always lived with my belly full
Even now I am belching
The least I can wish is to deserve your hatred

Old woman, what could my words do for you?
I do not wish to atone for anything any more
What strangles me is what you have in your hand
the horizon you will not look at

I hear Clementi’s sonatina faintly
No one speaks to me
What deep comfort

Toba 3

The old woman is looking at the sand as she gathers brushwood
I am looking at the horizon from my hotel window
You, who have lived through hunger,
please go ahead and torture me

I have always lived with my belly full
Even now I am belching
The least I can wish is to deserve your hatred

Old woman, what could my words do for you?
I do not wish to atone for anything any more
What strangles me is what you have in your hand
the horizon you will not look at

I hear Clementi’s sonatina faintly
No one speaks to me
What deep comfort
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère