some spring-time snow

here, amidst flurrying cherry blossoms
it’s as though some spring-time snow
were falling and did not melt  

monk Soku (ca. 880)

spending the spring night in the foothills
I slept, and deep inside my dream
blossoms fell without cease

Ki no Tsurayuki  (872-945)

..

on a moonless night

like a black cat
i come to you
in my dream

longing burning

breasts racing fire

heart in flames

my body is

the field of dreams

this moonless spring

of your lust

.

the golden beyond

.

let me sit here, quietly, for a while

you must go beyond the wall.
at least once, at least one step. with your bleeding nail
you must carve out a little hole in the brick,
your eye must at last catch
a glimpse of the other side, before being blinded
by the pouring down of the golden hour.

i know.
tomorrow i will put on my golden dress,
fasten my hair with a golden ribbon, the whiteness of my shoulders
aglow in the setting sun, as i cross over, into the golden sea,
as i conjure the golden fin, kneeling down
to pray for the deepest cut, for yet another
spear of light.












i know.
before that first and last wave of gold sweeping through me,
nevertheless, let me sit here, quietly, for a while. let me know of nothing but the
humble solidity of this wall, its barren geometry enough
to make peace with necessity,
whose circumference traces the outline of what one would call 'life',
my life and yours and, don't forget, the life of these branches
as well, moving restlessly in the dry wind, the life of these shadows crawling
upon the bare face of the land. let me breathe here,
for yet a while longer, my gentleness expanding
into the gentleness of the hour,
my body draped only by the rhythmical unfolding
and receding of a soul, wishing for nothing,
knowing of no beyond.


.