The Ripple
2007
A Japanese correspondent asked if I would write some music to his poetry. Following is the English version of the poem, which I assisted in translating.
The Ripple
Something drops upon the surface of the water;
the sound of its falling extends into silence.
Beautiful concentric circles ripple outward.My thoughts, reflecting,
Does it extend unmeasured?
Does it diffuse helplessly?Anyway, if I notice,
there is a surface of water
(indistinct from the former)
in front of me.— Taihei Nebuka
The original poem is as follows:
『波紋』
何かがこの水面に落ちてくる
ぽちゃんという音が静寂に響き渡り
綺麗な同心円状の波紋が広がっていく
それを眺めるこの僕の心は
果てしなく広がっていくのか？
どうしようもなく拡散するのか？
いずれにせよ気がつけば
前と変わらぬ水面のまま
"Sing, O barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,"
says the Lord.
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,"
says the Lord.
"Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
"For your Maker is your husband —
the Lord Almighty is His name —
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called the God of all the earth."
the Lord Almighty is His name —
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called the God of all the earth."
— Isaiah 54:1,4-5