Great-Grandmother’s Philosophy

Original version (Japanese):

“曽祖母の哲学” by Shinsei

雨が降る木のこの香り
酒を飲んでは吐き捨てる

遠くに見えるは幻か
遠くに笑う曽祖母の

優しく厳しい哲学の
硬まる我は　雲の上

English version:

“Great-Grandmother’s Philosophy” translated by Shinsei

The scent of rain
soaking into wood—
I drink, then spit it out.

Was that a mirage
or my great-grandmother’s laughter
echoing from afar?

Her gentle, stern philosophy
settles inside me,
solid now,
above the clouds.