Poem.

I believe it’s National Poetry Day in the UK today. Please have a poem. It was written by a wizard.

Romance

The happiness I hope for is simple
like a tide that comes only once
relinquishing the tranquil swelter of an afternoon
and to be with you
no that’s not it that’s not quite it
the happiness I hope for is simple
the tranquil summer afternoon swelter naturally
and over and over and over relinquishes itself
at its embouchure where I no longer
recall anything about you
despite that, at the moment, a stone basks in the sun
since stones can be counted and hotter than memory
the happiness I hope for is simple
far to the right of appearing and disappearing natural numbers
is an agate? yes something like an agate
and a fricative rustling of the sky’s leaves can be felt
even as the rustling feeling flutters diminishing
the happiness I hope for is simple
because at the moment a flower bud pops open in my inner ear
a flower bud opens on the stapes of my ear

Kiwao Nomura
trans. Kyoko Yoshida and Forrest Gander

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