Illusion

Listen, I'm telling you in whispers.......
Promise you won't tell another soul!


From that distant sky above—
one day, a 'star' descended!
In the early dawn, my sleepy eyes
opened wide with a start!
The 'star' reassured me—
Oh, don't be afraid, I'll watch over you!
Joy split me into eight pieces!
I asked, What do you want, tell me?
I'll take you wandering today—
will you keep me company?
Oh my.......what are you saying! Is this even possible?
You know,
night after night I've stayed awake.......
watching you, calling to you, weary am I!
Are you telling the truth? Come then—why delay?


Time raced by wildly.......
Hours tumbled past,
down familiar and unfamiliar roads—
we walked a long way.........there, farther still.
At unknown turns of familiar tales—
eating sweets and laughing heartily.
The final chapter, left unfinished—
came the end. What happened here!


In the folds of a beloved book's story,
taking a sudden plunge,
even the verses without rhythm
break their meter to find new cadence.
With rows upon rows of trees,
lost in kingdom-wide tales.......
listening briefly to the painful weeping
of fallen, dried leaves.
Loving deeply
all the nameless flowers.
In broad daylight, losing our way
to the shepherd boy's flute song.......
at the pond's edge, in clear water,
seeing one's own face.
Scattered across the wetlands,
plucking water lilies.......
on the river's breast that touches sky.......
delighting in diving and swimming.
Dancing in rhythm
with the ocean's waves.
Today, giving the rain
so much water to drink,
going, going to the waterfall's rhythm.......
playing in pure joy.
In the green and white of reed beds.......
lost in hide-and-seek.
On the green earth's grasses,
touching just a little.......
chasing after
multicolored butterflies.......
lost in that unknown distance of far hills,
caught in a maze.......
floating on the sweet melodies
of singing birds.
Drawing close to the magical pull
of evening's light and shadow.


Like this, the whole day passed—lost in enchantment.


The 'star' said—
night has fallen.......
it's time to go now!
I'll come again.......
please come down to my home—
come!


..............................................
I wonder.......
will I truly, one day—
go to the 'star's' country?
If I ever go to that land, how will I return?