Two Poems by Michio Mado
Distant Place
I look up at the sky
over the eaves
along with mosquitoes,
stars
hang
in the spider web
In the evening
I look up at the sky
over the eaves
along with mosquitoes,
stars
hang
in the spider web
ah
in such a distant place where
stars can be mixed
with mosquitoes
we live
cohabiting with
mosquitoes
spiders
and other
countless
living things
——————
Dear God,
I thank you
for letting me,
a scrawny spoon,
scoop from the ocean just once
The ocean
was beautiful
Carefully holding
this drop of
glorious sunset
I will come
to make an offering
to you
from Masters of Modern Japanese Poetry
The Morris-Lee Publishing Group,
Rosemont, New Jersey, © 1999
translation by Takaka Lento, 1999