Poem of Solitary Delights
What a delight is
when on the bamboo matting
in my grass-thatched hut,
all on my own,
I make myself at ease.
What a delight it is
when, borrowing
rare writings from a friend,
I open out
the first sheet.
What a delight it is
when, after a hundred days
of racking my brains,
that verse that wouldn’t come
suddenly turns out well.
What a delight it is
when of a morning,
I get up and go out
to find in full bloom a flower
that yesterday was not there.
What a delight it is
when, skimming through the pages
of a book, I discover a man written of there
who is just like me.
What a delight it is
when everyone admits
it's a difficult book,
and I understand it
with no trouble at all.
What a delight it is
when I blow away the ash,
to watch the crimson
of the glowing fire
and hear the water boil.
What a delight it is
when a guest you cannot stand,
arrives, then says to you
‘I’m afraid I can’t stay long,’
and soon goes home.
What a delight it is
when I find a good brush,
steep it hard in water,
lick it on my tongue
and give it its first try.
Tachibana Akemi
What a delight is
when on the bamboo matting
in my grass-thatched hut,
all on my own,
I make myself at ease.
What a delight it is
when, borrowing
rare writings from a friend,
I open out
the first sheet.
What a delight it is
when, after a hundred days
of racking my brains,
that verse that wouldn’t come
suddenly turns out well.
What a delight it is
when of a morning,
I get up and go out
to find in full bloom a flower
that yesterday was not there.
What a delight it is
when, skimming through the pages
of a book, I discover a man written of there
who is just like me.
What a delight it is
when everyone admits
it's a difficult book,
and I understand it
with no trouble at all.
What a delight it is
when I blow away the ash,
to watch the crimson
of the glowing fire
and hear the water boil.
What a delight it is
when a guest you cannot stand,
arrives, then says to you
‘I’m afraid I can’t stay long,’
and soon goes home.
What a delight it is
when I find a good brush,
steep it hard in water,
lick it on my tongue
and give it its first try.
Tachibana Akemi