light filters in
this new morning
after wind after rain
the night before
I put aside the book
I was reading
and try to rise
but the cat
firmly anchored
in my lap
refuses to let me go
ah life
like this cat
has other plans
for me
too
life
That’s life by Orhan Veli Kanık
This house had a dog, curly
Called Dingdong–who curled up and died.
There was a cat too: Bluey,
She disappeared.
The daughter got married,
The son finished school.
All these bittersweet things
Happened in a year!
They all just happened like that . . .
That’s life.
translated by George Messo
taking a cue from Wang An-shih: self-portrait
It’s been ages since I looked
so long in a mirror
as I did today
contemplating shaving
the grey stubble
on my chin
my cheeks
and wondered
how I came to be
this one
I set out
so long ago
to be
across the floor
the cat
chases a ball
across the floor
the bell tinkles
he rushes forth
oh how easy
to chase a ball
across the floor
here yes here
here is a seed
here some earth
pour some water
gather some sun
wait a day
a month a year
a century perhaps
but here yes here
will be life
Harry standing eight
he is up, up
swaying slightly
as if in a strong wind
though no wind blows
through the rooms
that make up his home
just the wind of memory
and regret
of lost moments
failed promises
and hope gone missing
from his door
from a line by Rodney Crowell: every turn in my road
every turn
in my road
every spill
on my way
all the lies
in my ear
all the hurt
in my heart
all the dust
from my eyes
brought me here
brought me here
