Monday, July 9, 2007

Indonesia - Me

Me

By: Chairil Anwar


When my time comes
No one's going to cry for me,
And you won't, either

The hell with all those tears!

I'm a wild beast
Driven out of the herd

Bullets may pierce my skin
But I'll keep coming,

Carrying forward my wounds and my pain
Attacking
Attacking
Until suffering disappears

And I won't give a damn

I want to live another thousand years


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Philippines - Bonsai

Bonsai

By: Edith Tiempo


All that I love
I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.


All that I love?
Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son's note or Dad's one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.


It's utter sublimation,
A feat, this heart's control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand's size


Till seashells are broken pieces
From God's own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.



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Japan - Kobayashi Issa

By: Kobayashi Issa


oh sake cup
don't go floating away!
a sickle moon


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