This is the eleventh poem from Kyo’s second book of poetry, Zenryaku. Please note that because of my level of Japanese proficiency, it is impossible for me to tell from context whether the second kanji in the title should be pronounced “aka” or “beni.” Kyo has pronounced it both ways in different poems and songs in the past, so I can’t take a lead from precedence, as I can with “asu” instead of “ashita” for “tomorrow.”
Kanji:
闇の紅
心臓の闇
幾億の観衆の前
ぶら下がっている
もうそろそろ耐えられない現実
黒に真っ赤が飛び散る現実
受け入れろ
明日を…
俺のさよなら
手を振る俺は泣いていない
Romaji:
Yami no beni
Shinzou no yami
Ikuoku no kanshuu no mae
Burachigatteiru
Mou soro soro taerarenai genjitsu
Kuro ni makka ga tobichiru genjitsu
Ukeirero
Asu o…
Ore no sayonara
Te o furu Ore wa naiteinai
English: Note: I pretty much rewrote the book’s original English translation as it was very uncolloquial. You can read the original on the scan of the card. I did leave the title the same because it sounds good, although the meaning is closer to “Darkness’ scarlet.” The third line of the poem, “Burachigatteiru,” can be translated as either “lying in wait” (as in paparazzi lying in wait for a celebrity), or as “hanging” or “dangling.” I picked the lying in wait one, because as the narrator is having trouble with the audience, I thought it made more sense. I could be wrong.
Scarlet in the darkness
My heart’s darkness
In front of countless millions of audience members
Lying in wait
The reality is that I almost can’t bear it
The reality is deep red scattered in black
Accept
Tomorrow is…
My final goodbye
I wave my hand, and I’m not crying.
(Source: buddycat2, via derpengrey)
