Thoughts in Bonsai: Ten

1. 'I will never be able to forget you.' I don't believe in such words, you know?
Even if I could forget, why would I choose to forget?

2. By the calendar's count, days are ending regularly enough,
I remain the same old me, quite organized, quite irregular.

3. Those who have wealth are bent by wealth's burden,
Those who have riches are bowed by humility's weight.

4. People wait for dawn to break, and I wait for night to fall.
You too will understand the reason—just wait a few more days!

5. Silently, floods of words surge from within my chest,
My words never find their worthy recipients.

6. What do you gain, dear fellow, by living such plain, pious lives?
A single one of my scandals is worth more than your entire existence!

7. You strike someone down with the lash of words, then call a doctor for their fever?
Do you buy such hypocrisy at water's price!?

8. You and I together were meant to make us two,
Yet you and I together—today I live utterly alone!

9. You understand the tune of my laughter,
But cannot hear the sound of tears!
Yet life itself is nothing but a conversation of sorrows!

10. - Poet, I never receive anyone's love!
- You only keep hoping to receive, don't you?

11. You think I will be lost?
Look carefully into my eyes!
Ha ha...what did you understand, my friend?

12. I will keep painting,
Until I can forget your face!

13. By threatening me so much, you've made me so brave that now my courage will make you start trembling with fear!

14. Can't you make voluntary death a little easier?
Not everyone needs to keep living, after all!

15. I live only to drink, you know that?
He who watches from above sees everything—you believe that, don't you?

16. How can those who don't drink know what thirst for wine is?
How can those who drink know what love is!?

17. I can see my death approaching. There it is, right at the doorstep!
Before taking my life, won't I be given the chance to finish writing just this one poem?

18. Will you ask me to come to you once more?
I am the only one who knows the whereabouts of what you seek!

19. No need to wound me anew,
This time I will tear and maul myself bloody with my own hands!

20. The assassin who came to take my life read my poetry and pondered deeply for a long while.
Then he said, 'One who can write has no need to go to heaven!'