Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Yumi Fuzuki

The Sky for Signs

With no body worthy of offering,
I long to present you the sky above.
To hand over everything to you.
Which includes: the innuendo of lovely weather, for you.
Staving off rainstorms is not a job for two.
My cheeks puff as I silently store up air,
To blow all clouds away.

When I grab your wrist, besides your pulse,
What else I should be checking?
When sun has set, vital signs require affirmation.
Sleep is made to suit the night,
I slip in next to you.
Hands fumble, hands care, hands treat––––.
Seeking you, this hand ventures forth.
Dear one   please remain
a bit more of a child than me.

With everything engulfed by your body,
You unconvincingly lie: “I’m not trying to hide anything.”
I throw these hands up, hands that held yours,
Summoning thick clouds,
So as to cloak what’s real.
So as to protect you fully.
As I did this, you handed me a blue glove.
You removed only the one from your left hand,
And gently entrusted it to me.
His naked palm
received that sigh in white
And gradually reddened.

Painfully, you expose your ears,
But that’s your way to get stronger.
Fixing your eyes with that excellent ore,
You scrutinize the sky for signs.
If the rains come falling, I’ll run out to meet you.
You’ll hold the umbrella for me.

空の合図

空の合図

ささげるほどの身もなくて、
頭上の空だってあげたい。
なんでもきみに渡してやりたい。
たとえば、あてつけのような快晴をきみへ。
雨風をしのげるふたりじゃないものね。
雲を吹き消すため、
こっそりと頬ふくらませている。

きみの手首を握って確認すべきことが
脈拍のほかにあるのだろうか。
生存確認は、陽の沈んだ後が肝心。
夜には眠りをあつらえて
きみの隣へすべり入る。
手探り、手を焼く、手当てする――。
きみを求めて、この手はせっせと動き出す。
いとしいきみには 少しだけ
わたしより子どもでいてほしいのです。

すべてをそのからだに包んでいながら、
「隠すつもりはない」だなんて、嘘が下手だね。
繋いでいた手を投げやって
わたしは厚い雲を呼びよせた、
ほんとうのことが見えてしまわぬように。
わたしがきみを守りきるために。
するときみは青い手袋を握らせる。
左手から片方をはずして
わたしにそっとあずけてきた。
彼のはだかの手のひらは、
白い吐息を受けて
徐々に赤らんでいった。

苦しそうに耳をさらして、
きみはでも強くなろうとしている。
そんなすばらしい鉱石の目をして
空の合図を見届けている。
雨が降ったら迎えに行くよ。
傘はきみに持ってもらおう。
Close

The Sky for Signs

With no body worthy of offering,
I long to present you the sky above.
To hand over everything to you.
Which includes: the innuendo of lovely weather, for you.
Staving off rainstorms is not a job for two.
My cheeks puff as I silently store up air,
To blow all clouds away.

When I grab your wrist, besides your pulse,
What else I should be checking?
When sun has set, vital signs require affirmation.
Sleep is made to suit the night,
I slip in next to you.
Hands fumble, hands care, hands treat––––.
Seeking you, this hand ventures forth.
Dear one   please remain
a bit more of a child than me.

With everything engulfed by your body,
You unconvincingly lie: “I’m not trying to hide anything.”
I throw these hands up, hands that held yours,
Summoning thick clouds,
So as to cloak what’s real.
So as to protect you fully.
As I did this, you handed me a blue glove.
You removed only the one from your left hand,
And gently entrusted it to me.
His naked palm
received that sigh in white
And gradually reddened.

Painfully, you expose your ears,
But that’s your way to get stronger.
Fixing your eyes with that excellent ore,
You scrutinize the sky for signs.
If the rains come falling, I’ll run out to meet you.
You’ll hold the umbrella for me.

The Sky for Signs

With no body worthy of offering,
I long to present you the sky above.
To hand over everything to you.
Which includes: the innuendo of lovely weather, for you.
Staving off rainstorms is not a job for two.
My cheeks puff as I silently store up air,
To blow all clouds away.

When I grab your wrist, besides your pulse,
What else I should be checking?
When sun has set, vital signs require affirmation.
Sleep is made to suit the night,
I slip in next to you.
Hands fumble, hands care, hands treat––––.
Seeking you, this hand ventures forth.
Dear one   please remain
a bit more of a child than me.

With everything engulfed by your body,
You unconvincingly lie: “I’m not trying to hide anything.”
I throw these hands up, hands that held yours,
Summoning thick clouds,
So as to cloak what’s real.
So as to protect you fully.
As I did this, you handed me a blue glove.
You removed only the one from your left hand,
And gently entrusted it to me.
His naked palm
received that sigh in white
And gradually reddened.

Painfully, you expose your ears,
But that’s your way to get stronger.
Fixing your eyes with that excellent ore,
You scrutinize the sky for signs.
If the rains come falling, I’ll run out to meet you.
You’ll hold the umbrella for me.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère