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中原中也 Nakahara, Chūya (1907-1937)

• 『山羊の歌』 Poems of the Goat (1934)
• 『在りし日の歌』Songs of Bygone Days (1938)
• その他 Misc.

(⇒)

『山羊の歌』 (1934)より	From Poems of the Goat /i> (1934)
Haru no Hi no Yūgure 春の日の夕暮 Totan ga Senbei tabete トタンがセンベイ食べて Haru no Hi no Yūgure wa odayaka desu 春の日の夕暮は穏かです Andāsurō sareta Hai ga aozamete アンダースローされた灰が蒼ざめて Haru no Hi no Yūgure wa shizuka desu 春の日の夕暮は静かです ā! Kakashi wa naika? -- Aru mai 吁〔ああ〕！　案山子〔かかし〕はないか――あるまい Uma inanaku ka? -- Inanaki mo shimai 馬嘶〔いなな〕くか――嘶きもしまい tada tada Tsuki no Hikari no numeran to suru mama ni ただただ月の光のヌメランとするまゝに jūjun nano wa Haru no Hi no Yūgure ka. 従順なのは　春の日の夕暮か poto hoto to No no naka ni Garan wa akaku ポトホトと野の中に伽藍〔がらん〕は紅く Nibasha no Sharin Abura wo ushinai 荷馬車の車輪　油を失ひ watashi ga rekishiteki Genzai ni mono wo ieba 私が歴史的現在に物を云へば azakeru azakeru Sora to Yama to ga 嘲る嘲る　空と山とが Kawara ga ichimai hagure mashita 瓦が一枚　はぐれました Korekar haru no hi no Yūgure wa これから春の日の夕暮は mugon nagara zenshin shimasu 無言ながら　前進します mizukara no Jōmyaku-kan no naka e desu 自〔みづか〕らの　静脈管の中へです	A SPRING DAY'S EVE'-FALL The tin-roofs*1 are munching senbei*2, And the spring day's eve'-fall is still. The ashes pitched underhand turn pale, And the spring day's eve'-fall is still. Oh! Any scarecrow out there? — Not likely to be out there. Neighing of the horses? — Not likely to be neighing. As only but the moonbeam's sheer silkinesence*3 carries on, Might the one trusty thing be the spring day's even'-fall ? pot-fot*4 in the grass, the temple lies scarlet. With the horse-drawn wagon-wheels losing grease, As I have words to say to the historical-present, Oh how they jeer me, the skies and the mountains. A single-roof tile has gone astray,*5 From henceforth, the spring day's eve'-fall Shall proceed forward in silent utterance Into its own venous canals. *1 totan Reference to galvanized steel sheets (often corrugated) used as roofing for shanty houses. *2 crispy rice crackers. These senbei makes loud crunchy noises when eaten, just as the galvanized sheet roofs make noisy sounds when wind buckles them or rain hammers down. *3 A nonce word, numeran, occurs here. (possibly nume type of satin silk + sanran gleaming, luminous) *4 A mimetic or onomatopoeic word. *5 A play on words. Here one would expect "kawara ga.. hagareru" which means the "roof-tile peels off" but he changes it to ".. hagureru" meaning "gets lost; gets separated from the others". (⇒)
Sākasu サーカス iku Jidai ka ga arimashite 幾時代かがありまして chairoi Sensō arimashita 茶色い戦争ありました iku Jidai ka ga arimashite 幾時代かがありまして Fuyu wa Shippū fukimashita 冬は疾風吹きました iku Jidai ka ga arimashite 幾時代かがありまして kon-Ya koko de no hito-Sakari 　　 今夜此処〔ここ〕での一〔ひ〕と殷盛〔さか〕り 　　　　 今夜此処での一と殷盛り Sākasu-Goya wa takai Hari サーカス小屋は高い梁〔はり〕 soko ni hitotsu no Buranko da そこに一つのブランコだ mieru-tomo-nai Buranko da 見えるともないブランコだ Atama sakasa ni Te wo tarete 頭倒〔さか〕さに手を垂れて 　　 yogore Momen no Yane no moto 　　 汚れ木綿の屋蓋〔やね〕のもと yuān           yuyōn           yuyayuyon ゆあーん　ゆよーん　ゆやゆよん sore no chikaku no shiroi Tō ga それの近くの白い灯が 　　 yasui Ribon to iki wo haki 　　 安値〔やす〕いリボンと息を吐き Kankyaku-sama wa mina Iwashi 観客様はみな鰯 　　 Nondo ga narimasu Kaki-gara to 　　 咽喉〔のんど〕が鳴ります牡蠣殻〔かきがら〕と ゆあーん　ゆよーん　ゆやゆよん Yagai wa makkura kura no kura 屋外〔やがい〕は真ッ闇〔くら〕　闇〔くら〕の闇〔くら〕 Yoru wa kōkō to fuke masuru 夜は刧々〔こうこう〕と更けまする Rakuka-gasa me no Nosutarujia to 落下傘〔らくかがさ〕奴〔め〕のノスタルヂアと ゆあーん　ゆよーん　ゆやゆよん	CIRCUS There were ages gone by, 　　 And khaki wars were fought. Ages gone by, 　　 And in winters, blasts hurled out. Ages gone by, 　　 And one-time raucous held here tonight, 　　　　 One-time raucous held here tonight. At the circus hut pitched up high, 　　 A towering beam, and one trapeze. Head upside-down, arms a-dangling, 　　 Beneath the soiled canvas roof, yu-Ahhn yu-Yohhn yuya-yuyon The white lights close by, 　　 And cheap ribbons together breathe out. The spectators are sardines all. 　　 Throats rumble, and oyster-shells. yu-Ahhn yu-Yohhn yuya-yuyon It's pitch-dark, dark, dark, dark, dark out. The night wears on and on and on *1 . The parachuter-cad's nostalgia, and yu-Ahhn yu-Yohhn yuya-yuyon *1 The original wording confounds straightforward interpretation. The phrase he uses (刧々 kōkō) is not in the Kojien dictionary, but according to Kanji dictionaries means "1. effort 2. over the ages" which don't make much sense. On the other hand, the single character kō means 'long time, eon' so that should be taken as a the meaning.     There is probably a play on words here because there is a homonym (皓々 kōkō etc.) meaning "white, bright" and applied to moonlit nights, etc. (⇒)
Asa no Uta 朝の歌 Tenjō ni aka kiiroi de 天井に　朱〔あか〕きいろいで To no Suki wo moreiru Hikari 　　 戸の隙を　洩れ入る光、 hinabitaru Gungaku no omoi 鄙〔ひな〕びたる　軍楽の憶〔おも〕ひ Te nite nasu nanigoto mo nashi 　　 手にてなす　なにごともなし。 Kotori ra no Uta wa kikoezu 小鳥らの　うたはきこえず Sora wa Kyō Hanada-Iro rashi 　　 空は今日　はなだ色らし、 utonjiteshi Hito no Kokoro wo 倦〔う〕んじてし　人のこころを isame suru nanimono mo nashi 　　 諌〔いさ〕めする　なにものもなし。 Jushi no kŋ ni Asa wa nayamashi 樹脂〔じゅし〕の香に　朝は悩まし ushinaishi samazama no yume 　　 うしなひし　さまざまのゆめ、 Morinami wa Kaze ni naru kana 森竝は　風に鳴るかな hirogori te tairaka no sora ひろごりて　たひらかの空、 Dote zutai kiete yuku kana 　　 土手づたひ　きえてゆくかな utsukushiki samazama no Yume うつくしき　さまざまの夢。	MORNING SONG Hits the ceiling.. yellow and red, The light. . which leaks from the door-crack Rustic are. . military tunes remembered Nothing there. . for these hands to do The wee-birds' songs. . not to be heard The sky today. . seems a cerulean hue Living souls. . bored with all And nothing there. . to spur them on. The perfume of resin. . trouble me in the morning Having lost. . a manifold dream. The forest-rows. . ringing in the wind. Spanning wide, .. tranquil are the skies Vanish away. . up the dirt-ramp's stretch Oh beautiful. . dreams so manifold. (⇒)
臨終 秋空は鈍色〔にびいろ〕にして 黒馬の瞳のひかり 水涸（か）れて落つる百合花 あゝ　こころうつろなるかな 神もなくしるべもなくて 窓近く婦〔をみな〕の逝きぬ 白き空盲〔めし〕ひてありて 白き風冷たくありぬ 窓際に髪を洗へば その腕の優しくありぬ 朝の日は澪〔こぼ〕れてありぬ 水の音したたりてゐぬ 町々はさやぎてありぬ 子等の声もつれてありぬ しかはあれ　この魂はいかにとなるか？ うすらぎて　空となるか？	BRINK OF DEATH The autumn-sky, the color of lead. A black horse's gleam in the eye Water dries, the bloom's fallen off the lily. Oh to feel so empty inside. Without a god. . Without a guide, The woman at the windowside has left us. The white skies turned a blind eye The white winds chilly to her. Washing her hair at the windowside, Those were gentle arms, The morning day spills over, The sound of water dripping. The towns are a-buzz, Chidren's shouting strung along Still yet. . what will become of her soul? Would it thin out and turn to sky? (⇒)
帰郷 柱も庭も乾いてゐる 今日は好い天気だ 　　　　縁の下では蜘蛛〔くも〕の巣が 　　　　心細さうに揺れてゐる 山では枯木も息を吐く あゝ今日は好い天気だ 　　　　路傍〔ばた〕の草影が 　　　　あどけない愁〔かなし〕みをする これが私の故里〔ふるさと〕だ さやかに風も吹いてゐる 　　　　心置なく泣かれよと 　　　　年増婦〔としま〕の低い声もする あゝ　おまへはなにをして来たのだと…… 吹き来る風が私に云ふ	BACK IN THE HOME STATE Wooden posts and even the backyard is dry A fine weather today. Under the house are cobwebs Wavering disheartenedly In the back hills, even wizened trees exhale out. Oh what fine weather today The wayside weeds' shadows They lament guilelessly. This is my home village. The winds blow with clear resound. Saying it's alright to cry your heart out, The lowered voice of the middle-aged matron. Oh, what have you been up to all this time ? … … The blowing winds say this to me. (⇒)
寒い夜の自我像 きらびやかでもないけれど この一本の手綱をはなさず この陰暗の地域を過ぎる！ その志明らかなれば 冬の夜を我は嘆かず 人々の憔懆〔せうさう〕のみの愁〔かな〕しみや 憧れに引廻される女等の鼻唄を わが瑣細なる罰と感じ そが、わが皮膚を刺すにまかす。 蹌踉〔よろ〕めくままに静もりを保ち、 聊〔いささ〕かは儀文めいた心地をもつて われはわが怠惰を諌〔いさ〕める 寒月の下を往きながら。 陽気で、坦々として、而〔しか〕も己を売らないことをと、 わが魂の願ふことであつた！	A COLD NIGHT'S SELF-PORTRAIT Nothing spectacular but I Never let go of this one bridle As I pass this land of dark obscurity. So long as this resolve is manifestly clear, I shall not bemoan the winter night. Men's woes that amount to fretfulness that's all, And humming-tunes of women taken for a ride by the allure: I accept these as humble punishment. That's why I let them prick my flesh at will. I maintain my composure even as I stumble, With feeling somewhat like officiating speech, I restain my own laziness While I walk beneath a cold winter moon. To be cheery, be even-keeled, and not to prostitute oneself, That was what my soul desired! (⇒)
汚れつちまつた悲しみに…… 汚れつちまつた悲しみに 今日も小雪の降りかかる 汚れつちまつた悲しみに 今日も風さへ吹きすぎる 汚れつちまつた悲しみは たとへば狐の革裘〔かはごろも〕 汚れつちまつた悲しみは 小雪のかかつてちぢこまる 汚れつちまつた悲しみは なにのぞむなくねがふなく 汚れつちまつた悲しみは 倦怠〔けだい〕のうちに死を夢む 汚れつちまつた悲しみに いたいたしくも怖気〔おぢけ〕づき 汚れつちまつた悲しみに なすところもなく日は暮れる……	UPON THE SADNESS ALL SMEARED UP.. Upon the sadness all smeared up, Another sprinkling day of snow. Upon the sadness all smeared up, Another day the winds will blow. Sadness that's been all smeared up, Might compare to the pelt of fox. Sadness that's been all smeared up, In the flurry of snow, cringing down. Sadness that's been all smeared up, Nothing to hope for, nothing to desire. Sadness that's been all smeared up, Langorously dreams of death. Sadness that's been all smeared up, Cringing spineless, so achingly. Sadness that's been all smeared up, Nothing can be done, the day turns to dusk... (⇒)
雪の宵 　 　　　　　　 青いソフトに降る雪は 　　　　　　 過ぎしその手か囁〔ささや〕きか　　白秋 ホテルの屋根に降る雪は 過ぎしその手か、囁きか 　　 ふかふか煙突煙〔けむ〕吐いて、 　　 赤い火の粉も刎〔は〕ね上る。 今夜み空はまつ暗で、 暗い空から降る雪は…… 　　 ほんにわかれたあのをんな 　　 いまごろどうしてゐるのやら。 ほんに別れたあのをんな、 いまに帰つてくるのやら 　　 徐〔しづ〕かに私は酒のんで 　　 悔と悔とに身もそぞろ。 しづかにしづかに酒のんで いとしおもひにそそらるる…… 　　 ホテルの屋根に降る雪は 　　 過ぎしその手か、囁きか ふかふか煙突煙吐いて 赤い火の粉も刎ね上る。	SNOWY EVE 　　　　　　 The blue and soft falling snow, 　　　　　　 A whisper? or a receding palm? 　　— Kitahara Hakushū On the hotel rooftop, the falling snow, A whisper? or a receding palm. Puff-puff the smokestack belches smoke, red-hot embers dance up in the air. Tonight, the skies are pitch-dark, And the snow falling from the dark skies are …… Say, the girl I'd broken up with, Wonder what she's up to 'round now. Say, the girl I'd broken up with, Wonder if she will come back any time now. Quietly, I drink wine. Regret upon regret, my body elsewhere. In silence, still silence, I drink my wine, As adored thoughts incite my mind …… On the hotel rooftop, the falling snow, A whisper? or a receding palm. Puff-puff the smokestack belches smoke, Glowing embers dance up in the air. (⇒)
『在りし日の歌』 (1938)より	From Songs of Bygone Days (1938)
〇〇〇〇〇〇 ■■■■■■■■	XXXXX Xxxxx (⇒)
〇〇〇〇〇〇 ■■■■■■■■	XXXXX Xxxxx (⇒)

§Links:

• www.nakaharachuya.com
  英訳：ライ・ベヴィル　English Translations by: Ry Beville
  • Description of his published translations,
  • A Selection of his poem translations

• 湘南通信 Shonan Newsletter
  英訳：坂井孝彦　English Translations by: Mr. Takahiko Sakai
  • 曇天 / An Overcast Sky
  • 蜻蛉に寄す / To Dragonflies
  • 頑是ない歌　An Innocent Poem

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