From The Channel Boat
What shall I wear to sleep alone?
An under-kimono of silk crepe
dyed the hushed red of dawn.
It touches the skin
like the heavy mist falls on flowers.
Every time I wear it I’m glad
I was born a woman.
In the candle’s glowing flame
its smallest motion
has a beauty hat makes me catch my breath
even in this bedroom without you.
It’s strange but
as I slip under the quilts
in the cold February bed
my heart returns to the days
when I was a girl and first loved you.
My husband traveller
are you sleeping now in France?
If a bird of paradise comes into your dreams
it is me.
trans Janine Beichman
where did you find her?! :-) i didn't know this one!
ReplyDeleteshe's one of my favourite, you know?
now i remember:
http://roxanaghita.blogspot.com/search?q=akiko
and also your lovely quoting of Baudelaire :-)
i did not know that - thought you'd like it tho. and i forgotten about thhe baudelaire. what a coincident reminder! thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good poem! It could have so easily slid into markishness - but cleverly just avoids doing so.
ReplyDeleteriver of stars, her selected poetry in english would seem to be the book to look out for
ReplyDelete