Thoughts in Bonsai: Twenty-five

1. Measuring roads, measuring roads,
I forgot my home!
Searching for roads, searching for roads,
I built my home!

2. Whenever you place your face
in the palm of that hand,
looking at the rose, I think,
I couldn't even become a rose's branch in this life!

3. What hope keeps you waiting?
Hope for the one who never returned to return?
Or hope for the one who stayed to leave?

4. Don't keep your lips sealed!
What if they return,
and flee just as you're opening your lips?

5. I'm not saying
you'll never see them again!
You could,
if someday you learn to hold them in your eyes!

6. My sleep is my mind!
My mind is my night!
My night is you!
Then why speak here separately
of dissecting dreams?

7. Don't try to adorn the world
if you don't adorn yourself!
Don't try to adorn yourself
if you don't understand yourself!

8. Even if blood falls reading my poetry,
what worth is that blood
if it doesn't fall from the eyes!

9. Don't ever become a novel,
just trying to follow all those ups and downs
would bring my death!

10. Those you've forgotten completely
in passion's strike—
know this: God exists in them too!

11. Does getting drunk require only wine's cup?
Won't the flower in the wine-bearer's hand suffice?

12. The shop had only jasmine,
so I came empty-handed!
What fool brings jasmine
for someone wanting roses, tell me!

13. Losing you today,
I cried for the second time!
I cried the first time
thinking I'd never have you!

14. Are there really people somewhere
who'd watch you be unhappy with their own eyes...
Though sometimes,
even walls look toward the room,
even doors step over thresholds!

15. Do you remember my face?
Or do you see everyone
you turn away with the same face?

16. Why do you cover your eyes?
I'm not looking at myself!
Look this way, let me look at myself a little...

17. Why do I feel this way?
I already knew you would leave!

18. Whether I have you or not,
if you're happy,
I'll have everything!

19. Just because I became easily available to you,
do you think having me is easy for everyone?
Why has your self-confidence suddenly diminished so much!

20. Life has taught me:
those who wear masks
are the ones who can easily catch masks!