Bonsai of Thoughts (Translated)

Bonsai of Thoughts: One Hundred and One

1. The one I love so dearly—
no one else receives
such hatred from me!

2. The more one is honored at the office,
the more dishonored at home—
why would such a person return home!?

3. Down the mountain's slope
in the melody of cascading streams
rose petals drift...

4. The love in a poor man's heart,
its beautiful expression...audibly;
even more beautiful...in silence!

5. He dreams, and then
in cigarette smoke's swirls
lets all dreams drift away...

6. Stay with me
with the lights dimmed,
a glass of water close at hand.

7. With the moon
upon the moon's body
in the moon's light
in the moon's caress...

8. The drowning man
grasped some water hyacinths
in his final moments
and glimpsed a green death.

9. The freight truck
with its aged body
still tears up
roads and byways...

10. With morning's light alone
it finishes breakfast!
Is this sun-love?
Or poverty?

11. Even my gentle father
becomes a raging fire
whenever grain becomes
heavier than income!

12. Beside the ruined house
the guava tree standing
in full youth—
is it declaring a new war?

13. In a shop
heavy paperweights rest
on books of tree pictures.
Even in the breeze...not a single leaf trembled.

14. Piercing dawn's mist
the morning crow's call
clears the fog, brightens the light.

15. The sea churns restlessly today
and even tonight, on the neighboring island
scatters thick clouds
of stars.

16. Dear cat!
Why so agitated?
For fish? For mice?
Or from lack of affection?

17. Dear dewdrop,
may I wet these ugly hands
in your sweet water
and wash them clean?

18. My house burned down—
let it be ash!
But does that bar me
from seeing my rose garden?

19. Life?
Grass swaying in the wind,
butterflies dancing from blade to blade
...what else is there!

20. This moonlight...
is enough for love!
Come close, in the blanket's warmth
let tender coolness die!
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