Cathedral in the Thrashing Rain
(O mata fukitsunoru ame kaze.)
O another deluge of wind and rain.
Collar turned up, getting drenched in this splashing rain,
and looking up at you -- it's me, ...
it's that Japanese.
This morning
about daybreak the storm suddenly went violent, terrible,
and now is blowing through Paris from one end to the other.
I have yet to know the directions of this land.
(O mata fukitsunoru ame kaze.)
I don't even know which way this storm is facing. ...
Only because even today I wanted to stand here
and look up at you, Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris,
I came, getting drenched,
only because I wanted to touch you,
only because I wanted to kiss your skin, the stone, unknown to anyone.
O another deluge of wind and rain.
Though it's already time for morning coffee,
a little while ago I looked from the Pont-Neuf,
the boats on the Seine were still tied up to the banks, like puppies.
The leaves of the gentle plane trees shining in their autumn colors on the banks
are like flocks of buntings chased by hawks. ...
The chestnut trees behind you,
each time their heads ... get mussed up,
starling-colored leaves dance up into the sky. ...
All the square is like a pattern,
filled with flowing silver water, and isles of golden-brown burnt-brown leaves.
Then there's the noise of the downpour resounding in my pores.
It's the noise of something roaring, grinding. ...
With golden plane tree leaves falling all over my coat,
I'm standing in it.
Storms are like this in my country, Japan, too.
Only, we don't see you soaring.
O Nootorudamu, Nootorudamu ...
O Notre-Dame, Notre-Dame,
rock-like, mountain-like, eagle-like, crouching-lion-like cathedral,
reef sunk in vast air,
square pillar of Paris,
sealed by blinding splatters of rain, ...
O soaring in front, Notre-Dame de Paris,
it's me, ...
it's that Japanese.
My heart trembles now that I see you.
Looking at your form like a tragedy,
a young man from a far distant country is moved.
...
O another deluge of wind and rain. ...
Only the gargoyles ...
raise their paws, crane their necks,
bare their teeth, blow out burning fountains of breath. ...
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poem by KotaroTakamura
Added by Poetry Lover
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