IT’S HARD TO GIVE AN ENGLISH YOB THE BRUSH OFF.
Pretty Japanese
being bothered in Dutch disco
tells her “botherer”
Her name is “Sayon Ara! ”
Dumb... he not taking the hint.
****
PESTERED TO BITS
OR
('MINIKUI KAO! KUSOTTARE-JIJII! OKASAN DEBESO!
KISAMA NO BABA WO YATCHAO
SHOMBEN DE KAOWO ARATTE KOI! HE DE MO KURAE!
KUSO SHITE SHINE! HIHI-JIJII! INJU! INJU! BAKO! O-BAKA! ') *
Asks for a kiss.
“HAZUKASHII! ”** She declines.
He tries to force her.
“ASHIMOTO NI KI O
TSUKETE! ” ***– then trips him up.
****
HAVING OUR PICTURE TAKEN BY BHUDDA
We place camera
On lap of statue of Buddha
Run back into place.
Smile as camera...whirrs...clicks.
Thank Buddha for taking it.
****
FROM THE LAP OF THE GODS
Disco...glitter ball.
Buddha sitting this one out.
So many statues.
From their stone laps...sweets...reefers.
I clutch at his crotch: peanuts!
***
YUKI...KUKI****
“No...not...snow! ” she beams.
“Flower...eh...chrysanthemum.”
Gentle as snowfall
she...oh...blossoms in my mind
above the disco.
****
* The original title was in demotic Japanese but I thought it was a bit of a mouthful. It was actually this invective screamed at high pitch that sent him scuttling after his...eh...trip!
'UGLY FACE! SHITTY OLD GOAT! YOUR MOTHER HAS A PROTRUDING NAVEL! SCREW YOUR MOTHER! GO WASH YOUR FACE WITH PISS! EAT MY FART! SHIT AND THEN DIE! DIRTY OLD MAN! FILTHY FIEND LASCIVIOUS BEAST! FOOL! GREAT FOOL! '
** “HAZUKASHII! ” = I couldn’t possibly...I’m ashamed...I am embarrassed!
*** “ASHIMOTO NI KI O TSUKETE! ” = “Watch the steps! ”
**** YUKI = SNOW
KUKI = CHRYSANTHEMUM
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I love your tankas Dónall. There's a book here and I'm going to make it.