Thoughts in Bonsai: Twenty-Nine

1. In your city
even when people die, no one steps forward!
In our village
even when people live, everyone steps forward!

And you dare teach me humanity!

2. Our entire family was sold away.
My mother was sold twice.
First time for herself,
second time for me.

After I grew up
I bought back our entire family.
I bought myself twice.
First time for myself,
second time for my mother's grave.

3. Your eyes themselves—
that's the real wine!
Never before have I drunk
and felt such intoxication!

4. I understand, you too must endure many wounds?
Let the burden of remorse rest on my shoulders then!

5. When speaking was worth a lifetime,
I said nothing at all.
And now when speaking draws near death,
I can't stop chattering away!

6. Where no relationship exists between two people,
even there the sky weeps daily at one person's sorrow!

7. Don't say whatever comes to mind!
Your share of food reaches even your head!
Why do you keep feeding him by making him sit?

8. Even today, at your name
rain falls in someone's eyes!

9. The one I call close
is the very one meant to stay distant!
The one I stay close to
is the very one meant to be kept distant!

10. To have you,
those I once wouldn't even glance toward,
today they are
turning again and again to look at me!

11. Where haven't I found you!
Rather, it's you who haven't found me!
If anyone should weep, you should weep—why should I!?

12. Love still exists in this world!
Otherwise why would people weep even after finding their beloved?

13. If you want to know about my love in just two sentences, listen!
The one I love has stayed.
The one who doesn't love me has left.

14. In fear of them I had cleared away all the stones.
Then they killed me by flicking their tongues at me.

15. Because you love to wound,
I've learned to endure such wounds!
For bearing wounds is easier than losing you!

16. I was drowning,
like everyone else, monsoons descended in your eyes.
As I drowned and somehow floated up;
I see, instantly clouds gathered across your face!

17. Let it be, forgive the poor soul!
For years now the poor thing has been drowning in love for the wrong person!

18. You see that I'm standing!
I see that I cannot move!
My beloved sees that I'm waiting for her!

What is God seeing at this moment!?

19. In childhood, if I could escape by fooling my parents, I felt I'd survived!
Today in adulthood, my parents themselves escaped by fooling me! When did they learn such revenge!?

20. Without burning yourself, what can you gain in this world, tell me!
To get even a little shade, you must stand opposite the sun and burn!