Poetry

Every once in a while, I find a poem that speaks to my soul. This one was read on the radio on Classical 89.

Gathering Up

by Duo Yu

Translated by Steven Riep

The winter rain gathers up all the tears

Damp fallen leaves, black, like burnt spirit money

A man on the upper slope

His raised shoulders

Gathers up all forbearance

The bird in the pine needles gathers up

The ash Gray threads of rain, like floating hair.

Gather up into a beautiful face.

I stand by the window

Looking at the water droplets on the pane

Gathering up to form a sea of sorrow.

What sort of sorrow will,

When gathered up

Become power

Depends on you love.

I regret I do not know how it was originally notated or punctuated. I have never read much Japanese Poetry before, but this one moved me. Talk about simple elegance.