1999 Poem by Ryuichi Tamura

I heard talk about ants somewhere
I firmly believed that the ant is a symbol of industriousness
That is completely wrong
for example
out of ten
only one is diligently carrying food
the other nine just wander around back and forth and left and right
I hear
pretending to be very busy
full of vitality
and being lazy

I want to become an ant, too
joining the group of nine
Sometimes
I should make an ideological scream

And
what is more surprising
is the ant's sleeping habits

They are awake only two hours
and spend a good twenty two hours asleep
1999

I want to publish a book of poems by that name
if I can survive that long
it will be a full eighteen years I

will remain asleep like the ants
I want to write a diagnosis of the mental abnormality
of the one that silently continues carrying the food

Today's work is over
so
good night