Poem – Akehiro Shirai (Japan)

Near the Distance

– For peace

The border at the back
The north and the east
adjacent to here
I
touch you
with the palms of both my hands

I want to give you
the message
I want to say
with care
that

I don’t have time
to sidetrack

Talking slowly
about the things
we want to say

I am listening to you
I am not
Regardless of that,
as if these were the same

Important things
not-so important things
as if they were the same
Don’t let them both go

Hey,

We don’t have time
Nah
It doesn’t matter
that we don’t have time
you see
now
here we are
like this

Talk to me
Don’t talk
Don’t do either
Your
My
voices and breaths
behind our backs.

(translated by Otsuka Toshibumi)

Akehiro Shirai (born 1970) is a poet in Japan, with a wife and a toddler daughter. He is a member of Japan Poets Association. He has published two poetry books, “Kokorowonu” (Shigaku-sha, 2004) and “Kusamakura” (Kashin-sha, 2007). His other works are books and essays about traditional hand crafts of Japan.

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