Translated by John Gallas

1
Seagulls          Anon (c. eighth century)/Japan

‘Good morning seagulls
of Sao River.
Considering your fondness for
this fine little bay,
why are you all flapping off upstream?’

‘Good morning and Goodbye.
Mewmew. If you would stop
snarling up our beach
with damned nets, we might consider
staying to amuse you.’


2
Fable 19: The Nightingale and the Prince          Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–94)/France

A young Prince and his Tutor strolled within a lovely wood one day.
The Prince was pettish, bored and dull (the lot of Lords, or so they say).
He heard a Nightingale that sang amongst the trees – and at a whim
(as was his wont, I’m told) desired to have it caged, and sing for him.
But when he blundered in the leaves the bird, affrighted, flew away.
The Prince grew angry. ‘Tutor! Why’ he said, ‘does this sweet popinjay
stay in the woods, while in my court a thousand sparrows throng the air?’
The Tutor smiled: ‘Ah, many twitter, few keep counsel. Learn. Beware.
Stupidity is all about you, Sire, and is its own reward:
while Merit hides itself away, and you must seek it out, my Lord.’


3
Reality and Image          Manuel Bandeira (1886–1968)/Brazil

The skyscraper goes up in a clean sky washed with rain;
And down in a puddle of mud in the ...