TANKA by Takeshi Morigaki
translated by： Amelia Feilden & Saeko Ogi
苛立ちを抑えるために過剰なる敬語でお話申し上げます
in order to
suppress my exasperation
I speak
in excessively polite
and formal language
立ち上がりちち欲る牛を照らし出す西日よもっとやさしく照らせ
oh, westerly sun
that shines upon
the calf standing up,
wanting to suckle,
shine ever more kindly!
明日より授乳をやめる決断を下されし子が歩みはじめぬ
from tomorrow
no more
breast-feeding –
the child
has started walking
錆び付いたエンジンのごとき音立てて午前３時の児は泣き止まず
he’s making a noise
like a rusty engine –
it’s three in the morning
and the child
won’t stop crying
18の我、いずれは憎むべき父となる日を知らず過ごしき
as an eighteen year old
I led my life
unaware that sometime
the day would come when
I’d be a hateful dad
