Name it “Hope”
Motoharu Sano


On the night when your town jolted,
You sneaked in the city swimming pool, soaked yourself in the water, and meditated in the dark.

At times, people feel grateful for lights, water, rain, and winds.
At times people bend their knees to lights, water, rain, and winds.

Somebody is mourning, trembling in the dark.

I know, it is incomprehensible that your fellows are missing and not with you any longer:

I know how you feel.
But just try to think;

Promise me that you won’t waste your tears to be hypocritic.
Promise me that you don’t want someone to offer his/her routine condolences.

When it dawns, the sun rises just like before.
Green grass and trees flourish,
Birds fly over the sky.

Ah, this beautiful yet cruel Cliché

On the other hand,
How do you feel the lights penetrating into every single cell of your body?
How do you feel your vigorous muscles even though they are all covered with scars?

I know, you feel sorry about the absence of your friends,
But how about trying to celebrate yourself who survived by chance?
How about appreciating that you are lucky and allowed to stay alive?

Don’t give a damn to the hypocrites yelling that you’re being unscrupulous.
Give rays of hope to the world, and console the spirits of your friends.

You can name it “hope.”

Aftershocks still keep coming.

On my birthday, 2011

翻訳：山内あゆ子
English translation by Ayuko Yamanouchi

※ 2014年3月、表現を更新した - 佐野元春