Sunday, May 19, 2013

Poem by Ibaragi Noriko, translated


When I was most beautiful                        

When I was most beautiful
Cities crumbled to nothing
And from outrageous places
I could see something like blue sky

When I was most beautiful
Many people around me died
At factories    at sea     on uncharted islands
I lost my chance for paint and powder

When I was most beautiful
No one gave me a token of their affections
Men only knew how to salute
Leaving behind their innocent glances

When I was most beautiful
My head was empty and
My heart was obstinate
All my limbs shone chestnut brown

When I was most beautiful
My country lost the war
A crazy thing like that isn’t possible
I rolled up my sleeves and stomped around dejected streets

When I was most beautiful
Jazz poured from the radio
And with the giddiness of a relapsed smoker
I devoured the sweet music of another country

When I was most beautiful
I was very unhappy
I was filled with contradictions
I was absurdly lonely

So I decided     if I could, I would live a long life
Just like the French painter, Rouault
Who painted such beautiful pictures in his old age
                                                    you know?


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