Home » Poems » Best » Shinsaku Ashida » Best Shinsaku Ashida Poems

Best Poems Written by Shinsaku Ashida

Below are the all-time best Shinsaku Ashida poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

The Bird of Death

It comes for me, too.

No matter where we are
in the turning of the seasons,
I will no longer try
to hide from the bird.

Because it pecks
at the edge of winter,
this world is overfull
with the force of life.

It is because
the bird comes
that the seasons
are beautiful.

It is because
the bird has come
that flowers bloom.

Let it ride the wind—
there is no need to resist.
The bird
is already on its way.

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

The Dog's Words

Some people believe
that dogs have no words.
Perhaps they've never
heard the language of dogs.
In the heart of a guide dog,
there is language,
and in moments of danger,
appropriate actions speak eloquently.
The gaze with which they watch
their handler from behind
is language itself.
They communicate words
to those who cannot see.
Their quiet conversation,
though inaudible to others,
still reaches its intended listener.

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

I Want to Live Until Tomorrow

Because the clock has been fixed,
Because the radish seeds seem about to sprout,
Because there's a promise waiting for me tomorrow evening, 
Because I might finally return what I borrowed,
Because I may finish reading the thick book,

Because tomorrow,
I feel I might smile
just a little—

As if sleep
were a prayer,

As if a prayer
is needed to greet the morning,

As if the beginning of prayer
is like the end of worry.

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

Three Lights

first night—
the soul’s fringe still shining hazily
the last night—
as though knowing time has come
morning comes—
a firefly spends all its light

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

Books for Children

Children
imagine,
but their imagination
is still not enough.
Many images
are preparing to enter the children.
Children
cannot read books with just words.
Without beautiful pictures,
they cannot enter the stories.
Without fun pictures,
the stories cannot enter the children.
Without books,
children cannot enter the world.
Without children,
the world cannot enter the future.
The world will not become
what children imagine.

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

On the River Shore

From the right shore to the left,
I thought I could no longer cross.
Even if I looked back at the time that had passed,
I thought I could not cross the river.

The bridge had fallen; that was the end.
When the river overflowed,
I thought I was unloved by life.
Without even trying to forgive.

If I wanted to be loved,
I should have loved.
“A crimson sky breaks the distant shore.”
Still,The bridge can be built from either side.

For a river cannot exist with only one shore.
Since the day we first met,
We have shared this rich water until today,
On both shores.

Details | Shinsaku Ashida Poem

FIRE

In the beginning,
it was a wildfire.
The first humans
to witness fire on Earth
could not bear
just to watch.
There was no word
for fire yet.
It illuminated the night
and roasted the flesh of beasts.
When I began writing poetry,
books were burning.
Lightning struck,
and flames spread.
As I watched,
I felt the urge
to kindle fire myself.
There was no word
for poetry yet.
I could walk outside at night,
beasts grew fearful
and no longer
approached me.