Thoughts in Bonsai: Thirty-Two

1. Let them be, let them mistreat you!
Having come into this world,
why return empty-handed!?

2. After murdering poetry,
what sense does it make to come looking for the poet!?

3. All the work of this house
got lost in sleep!
I wake to find
even the master of the house has vanished!

4. When I look at life
with you beside me,
all of life disappears;
only a certain feeling remains...!

5. Where did we two lose ourselves today?
Those two who were born—where are they now?

6. Poet, you at least pass time writing poetry!
But how do I pass time
without asking for yours, tell me?

7. Friend, why do you think of me as competition?
Does everyone compete over life itself?

Friend, why do you think me a failure?
Is success's grammar tailored to your liking?

8. 'You won't get life back again!'
'Who asked to get it back!'

9. Oh, so you hate me?
What did you say! You belong to someone else now!

10. I let go of your hand!
Don't think I'm thinking
you don't love me anymore!
I've come to know
you don't want me to grow up!
I can love you,
but how can I become a sacrifice to your love!

11. You've moved away, no sorrow in that.
The only sorrow is this:
among those you keep close, I am not there!

12. One who writes poetry—
if you want to make a home with them,
be ready to make a home with a co-wife.
Poetry is their first wife!

13. Ah, if only that day would come in life
when anxiety knocks at the door
and without opening it, I could say,
not today, some other day!

14. The one I love doesn't love me back.
This must be accepted.
Perhaps they too live accepting this!

15. Trying to understand the arithmetic of your love,
today I understand neither arithmetic nor life!

16. You once said,
cross the boundary of friendship, come!
...that's when the distance began!

17. I want you so much.
Why I want you, I don't know.

18. Much of what you will want
is not in your destiny!
Accept it. With age, one must accept.

19. Don't tell me to be calm
from where you stand.
If you can, come to where I am
and show me how to be calm yourself!

20. Religion says, keep yourself away from intoxication!
Does that mean...seeing you is forbidden by faith!?