Saturday, July 13, 2013

which





Which shouldn’t exist
in this world,
the one who forgets
or the one
who is forgotten?

Which is better,
to love
one who has died
or not to see
each other when you are alive?

Which is better,
the distant lover
you long for
or the one you see daily
without desire?

Which is the least unreliable
among fickle things—
the swift rapids,
a flowing river,
or this human world?




~ Izumi Shikibu
 translation by Jane Hirshfield
from  The Ink Dark Moon



3 comments:

Rebel Girl said...

Good to "see" you here again. Thanks for this.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad "which" is here.:)

M.

jacquin said...

Yay yay yay you're back!!