Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Shuntaro Tanikawa

Toba 6

Sea –
even this single word contains deceit
But I insist on saying it
facing the waves rising before a storm

Sea! . . .
then I am left speechless
Into this darkness, my wife,
stretch out your suntanned arms

Your body needs no metaphors
a mouth sealing a mouth
scentless sweat sliding

But we groan
The groan is now a sweet murmur
to my heated ear, closer than the sea

鳥羽 6

鳥羽 6

海という
この一語にさえいつわりは在る
けれどなおも私は言いつのる
嵐の前の立ち騒ぐ浪にむかって

海よ………
そうして私が絶句した
そのあとのくらがりに
お前の陽に灼けた腕を伸ばせ

何の喩も要らぬお前のからだ
口が口を封じる
匂いのないすべる汗

だが人は呻く
呻きは既に喃語へと変る
熱い耳に海よりも間近に
Close

Toba 6

Sea –
even this single word contains deceit
But I insist on saying it
facing the waves rising before a storm

Sea! . . .
then I am left speechless
Into this darkness, my wife,
stretch out your suntanned arms

Your body needs no metaphors
a mouth sealing a mouth
scentless sweat sliding

But we groan
The groan is now a sweet murmur
to my heated ear, closer than the sea

Toba 6

Sea –
even this single word contains deceit
But I insist on saying it
facing the waves rising before a storm

Sea! . . .
then I am left speechless
Into this darkness, my wife,
stretch out your suntanned arms

Your body needs no metaphors
a mouth sealing a mouth
scentless sweat sliding

But we groan
The groan is now a sweet murmur
to my heated ear, closer than the sea
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère