The Bonsai of Thought: Ninety-nine

1. What remains
after separation—
that is the true chapter.

2. I see in the sky
two birds
on two branches
taking separate paths.

3. Looking at autumn's moon,
my feet freeze with frost!

4. Through the open window
from beyond the mountain
a deodar's heart
enters, riding the wind.

5. Candlelight
gives birth to... at least
another candle.

6. Loving you
is like a long river.
Our love
is like the span of a word.

7. Each of your breaths
has its own
heart,
its own tremor.

8. Dear city,
be careful—
in dust upon dust
lies torment!

9. The young city
stutters and whistles
at the sight of heaps of flesh.

10. Seeing your wounds,
wild stars
smile with their eyes.

11. Night's footprints,
morning's bloodstains...
they draw, they show.

12. Into the southern room
summer enters
wearing winter's mask.

13. Your pulse
is swallowed
one by one
by neglected nights.

14. Your eyes
fly and make others fly...
like little kites!

15. Our
festival of blood,
your
Holi of colors.

16. The scent of blue midnight,
desert nightmares
on a lonely tongue.

17. Don't speak.
Press your ear to night's body
and hear time weeping.

18. In mother's eyes—
memory of the cradle,
or of prayer.

19. In the gray night
we walk from star to star,
teeth clenched tight.

20. Your death,
a merchant's spread of blue—
both are salt-bitter!