Bonfires of autumn
Smoke blends with silver moonlight
softly shimmering
under mahogany skies
as crystal stars all sparkle
Colorful leaves flew
down yesterdays of our lives
on fresh, cold breezes
Hues December remembers
......
The wild duck startles like a sudden thought,
And heron slow as if it might be caught.
The flopping crows on weary wings go by
And grey beard jackdaws noising as they fly.
The crowds of starnels whizz and hurry by,
And darken like a clod the evening sky.
The larks like thunder rise and suthy round,
Then drop and nestle in the stubble ground.
The wild swan hurries hight and noises loud
With white neck peering to the evening clowd.
......
But do not let us quarrel any more,
No, my Lucrezia; bear with me for once:
Sit down and all shall happen as you wish.
You turn your face, but does it bring your heart?
I'll work then for your friend's friend, never fear,
Treat his own subject after his own way,
Fix his own time, accept too his own price,
And shut the money into this small hand
When next it takes mine. Will it? tenderly?
Oh, I'll content him,--but to-morrow, Love!
......
From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
......
Blowing stones
along the road on Mount Asama,
the autumn wind.
Translated by Robert Hass
Bonfires of autumn
Smoke blends with silver moonlight
softly shimmering
under mahogany skies
as crystal stars all sparkle
Colorful leaves flew
down yesterdays of our lives
on fresh, cold breezes
Hues December remembers
......
Baskets of peaches
Ripe, juicy, luscious and warm
Tangerine sun goes
Summer left these gifts behind
Like blooms of my memory
Flamingos soon dance
Along the edges of dusk
Beautiful endings
Preserves and pies are waiting
......
Cruising along on a rolling highway,
Petals blowing in a passing breeze,
Bejeweled distant blue skies above,
And a ruby redbird crowd goes past.
The sun is in jade, luxuriant grasses,
And the hills are among ivory clouds,
Colored leaves make pretty scenery,
And russet apples fall from the trees.
Autumn breeze in my hair disheveled,
So common where wind has reveled,
......
how could we know
we’d get on so
that morning in Vienna
a cocktail bar
and shining stars
we shared a cab
now here we are
......
fiercest fall frenzy
clashing leaves, color chaos
no sound but the wind