In my arm
With a bag of formulas left hanging in air for tomorrow
Only the needle remains, disconnected.
Tingling and numbing sensation
Constantly reminds me to
Keep my arm straight.
Dr. Sunagawa, I beg you to
Remove it
It aches and hurts.
I finish up all the meal and
You take the needle out.
Quid pro quo
Right on!
I went for it to eat up
Soft cooked rice
Clear soup
Almond crusted spanish mackerel
With red leaf lettuce
Turnip with deep-fried bean curd
My caseworker Kikuchi-san
Came to discuss with my family
Placement in care facilities.
My destination could be
A small room in a nursing home
On the edge of nowhere
Where a Requiem plays.
I was transferred
From the ward on 5th floor to the 7th floor.
Through the window I could see
The Tokyo Tower
Toranomon Mori Building No.37
Hotel Okura
Buildings subject to screening for budget cut.
The view from the window
Enticed me to ponder on
Stock market
Global economy
Hang in there, Japan!
For one test after another
Had blood drawn from a vein
My arm is covered with bandages.
Chest and Abdominal X-Ray taken.
Meeting between the chief physician and my family
Suggests the ever seriousness of my condition
The light of the Tokyo Tower was turned off
The star I will become someday
I can’t see tonight.
Poem by Maria franki
Edited and translated by J. Ujiie
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