Scaramouche, Scaramouche

i come and go, and
come, and leave no shape behind
nor any footprints

the lights i see on
the far shore of the dark lake
do not call me home

i cannot lay down
my arms, or seek out refuge
the door is not open

what i thought i had
was ephemeral, fleeting
built on soft dark sand

i light my own lamp
put on my shoes and jacket
walk the roads again

solitude is not
an eternal sorrow, and now
i can see the moon

***

蔵焼けて
障るものなき
月見哉
kura yakete
sawaru mono naki
tsukimi kana
-Masahide