“To Live” by Shuntaro Tanikawa (Poem)

Photo by KT

Translated by Ko Takamine

We’re living
We’re living in the moment
It’s like becoming thirsty
Blinded by the sun for a moment
A song popping into your head
Or sneezing out of the blue
It’s like being together with you, hand in hand

We’re living
We’re living in the moment
It’s like spotting a mini-skirt
Losing yourself in the planetarium
Enjoying Johann Strauss
Getting amused by Picasso
Or astonished by the Alpine mountains
Seek all the beautiful things in the world
While not taken by the evil in disguise

We’re living
We’re living in the moment
It’s like crying out loud
Laughing out loud
Or venting out loud, when you need to
You are free to express your feelings

We’re living
We’re living in the moment
It’s like a dog barking in the distance in this moment
The earth rotating in this moment
A mother giving birth this moment
A soldier getting hurt this moment
A swing swaying back and forth, back and forth in this moment
This very moment is passing and gone

We’re living
We’re living in the moment
Like how the birds fly in the sky
Like how the ocean roars
Like how the snails crawl
Humans seek love
The warmth in your hand
This is life