Tsushima Screen

The perilous yellow sun follows with its slant eyes

masts of the shuddered grove steaming up to capsize

in the frozen straits of Epiphany. February has fewer

days than the other months; therefore, it's more cruel

than the rest. Dearest, it's more sound

to wrap up our sailing round

the globe with habitual naval grace,

moving your cot to the fireplace

where our dreadnought is going under

in great smoke. Only fire can grasp a winter!

Golder unharnessed stallions in the chimney

dye their manes to more corvine shades as they near the finish,

and the dark room fills with the plaintive, incessant chirring

of a naked, lounging grasshopper one cannot cup in fingers.

1978, translated by the author.