Poem: This World is Full of Absurdity
In the cafe of an old library near the park
while sipping a cafe latte that is too sweet
as I read one of Kafka's absurd novels
suddenly a Lidth's jay
lands on the open page of the book
When I look up, at the large table across the way
a girl sits with her back to me
holding a deep, bright red umbrella like an observatory dome
and inside the umbrella, rain is falling quietly
Karajan is there, trying to hold me back with his baton
as I start to stand up in surprise
and without even being asked, I tell Karajan
that I want to hear my favorite, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique
When I come to, I am walking slowly
through a valley of buildings beautifully covered in green moss
and what I am holding is not Kafka
but a large blue picture book with a Lidth's jay on the cover
"Why don't you look up?"
a voice says suddenly by my ear, and when I lift my head
there are no windows anywhere on the towering buildings
instead, colorful
dome-like umbrellas are open all over the walls
"Watch your step!"
startled, I look down
to see Karajan, now a Koropokkuru
just as he has raised
a thin baton like a sewing needle
Far off in the valley of buildings
a magnificent sunset is about to begin
and the Lidth's jay
flies off from the cover of the picture book toward the sunset
This world is full of absurdity
there is no need to doubt it
nor any need to believe in it blindly
I just take this day, folded like origami
fold it small
and tuck it into my breast pocket every day
Before long
a stout librarian who looks like David Suchet
dressed in a brown leather vest
comes swaying with a yellow-lit lantern
and in a muffled voice
tells me it is time to close
Here are some other articles.
◾️Please check out my reviews of Kunio Tsuji's works here.
◾️Although they don't contain much useful information, you can find my "serious" essays other than reviews here.
◾️I am also collecting memorable writing from other noters. Please take a look!
◾️This is a "serious" site map that includes various other things.