No. 31: Untitled
Their cupped hands empty
Grime-stung eyes grope passers by
Scarcity is king
...
第三十一首 無題
空らした手
目汚れ覗く
欠乏王
...
Dai sanjūichi-shu Mudai
Karashita te
Me yogore nozoku
Ketsubō-ō
— Dean Bowman
About the Work
Author's Note: This poem was written as a companion piece to my other poem "Hunger" that takes a different perspective on poverty.
Inspiration: Seeing first-hand people struggle on the streets at a time of growing inequality is what brought this piece to life.
Process: This poem developed quickly as a vision I had in my head proved strong enough of a mental picture to compose this. The most difficult piece was the last line, which took many weeks to finally land the right wording.
Translation: I've distilled the original's stark imagery and social critique into Japanese haiku form, demonstrating how themes of deprivation and vulnerability transcend language and culture. My word choices—「空した手」(karashita te, empty hands) and「欠乏王」(ketsubō-ō, scarcity as king)—preserve the poem's hardship and resignation while reflecting Japanese literary aesthetics. By omitting seasonal references, I've foregrounded scarcity's universality, inviting contemplation of both material lack and the emotional landscapes shaped by want. This approach reflects my belief that translation can honor and reimagine source texts, offering new resonance for different audiences.
Publication Details
Untitled (No. 31)
Genre: Haiku Poetry
Author: Dean Bowman
Publication: 50 Haikus
Volume & Issue: Volume 1, Issue 3
Date Published:
Language: ja, en
Format: Print
ISBN: 9781495926488
Dean Bowman
Dean Bowman
Dean Bowman