Translating Issa #11
/ The whole depth of the lake holds . . .
The hinge is here. What’s the possession of water? Naturally,
bodies come to mind, which are mostly water anyway. This
afternoon, N. counted syllables with me, spread her fingers (standing
for long Os and summer) under our heads lowered together. She had
a small silver spot between her left eye and bridge of nose. She didn’t
know it was there then, but how everything to her must have been
shining!
Clouds like mountains swim
the depth of lakes the whole world
grows in their bellies. 