The Anniversary

Ten years is nothing,
Yet I do not remember

What happened before.

Morning flings shadows,
But midday is shadowless.

So I have found it.

I have no flowers,
Yet I give you these roses.

Humour my pretence.

Have I satisfied?
Who can be sure of himself.

Touch me with your love,
Knowing my weakness,
Spread your hands above my head.
See only your hands.

Watching you daily,
I dare not think what I see.

It is better so.

Since I am only
What you may consider me,

Have merciful thoughts.

Shield me from myself.
At times I have wounded you.

I do not forget.

Take what I give you.
Foolishness is in my words,

But not in my heart.

Cease urging your ears,
My speech has little for them.

Hearken otherwise.

You wrong me, saying:
One death will not kill us both.

Your veins hold my sap.

Keep in remembrance:
Peonies do not blossom

Till Spring is over.

You prefer Spring? Why?
A season's length of hours --

Incalculable.

Days and days -- what then?
Is not recurrence a smile

On the face of age?

Now, in the pale dawn,
How strange to consider time.

What is it to us?

Grains of rice counted --
Can any one so spend life?

Be spacious and wise.

The bowl is still full.
We will not be niggardly.
Plunge in both your hands.

I have known terror.
I swear to know it no more,

Each day a new dawn.

Youth is incautious.
Wisdom learns to tread softly,

Valuing moments.
Cherishing what is,
The wise man sees it depart

Without emotion.

Time is rhetoric,
A mad logician's plaything.
O pitiful world!

Listen to the wind;
Man has not learnt to measure

The wind of his thought.

Blowing asunder,
Yet we shall be as the air
Still undivided.

Sleep until day-spring.
With morning we start again,

Another ten years.