26 MAY 1967, Page 13

Dawn

HAGIWARA SAKUTARO

Translated from the Japanese by Graeme Wilson From pain of long disease The face is spider-webbed.

Below the waist the ebbed Flesh has contracted to Thin shadow-shapes, and these Shaped shadows peter out In nothings, in grey dream. . . .

Above the waist there sprout Things bushy, things that seem Like brambles of bamboo. Tile rotted hands are thin And every piece and part, Lips, knees and nails and heart, Are smashed and battered in.

The moon is up today, The day-moon's in the sky.

Its dawnly feeble ray, Dim as a hand-lamp, glows Weak as from overload.

And somewhere far away, Lifting its muzzle high, A huge white dog gives tongue. . . .

From desolation wrung Its desolation flows, Along the empty road, Cry upon howling cry.