Kobayashi Sachiko/Ryuuhyou Aika

Ryuuhyou Aika
(Ice Floe Elegy)

Kobayashi Sachiko

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Romaji

English

Hyouryuu mitai ni nagasarete Itsu shika itsuita kita no hate Doko de ikitemo onaji to Tabako wo fukaseba sukima kaze Mizore no yoru wa kyaku mo naku Yakan ga shurushurushuru naru bakari Nedoko de sasayaku yasashisa wo Honki ni suru no wa ahoudori Damashi damasare nakasarete Ki ga tsukya yappari hitorikiri Sore demo nukumori koishikute Suhada ga chirichirichiri naku bakari Kozeni wo tameteru sake no bin Nannimo ate nado nai keredo Hitori nomihosu kanzamashi Nigasa ga karada ni shimite yuku Furusato nanka nya kaeranai Ryuuhyou gishigishigishi naru bakari

Drifting like an ice floe I eventually settled down in the far north Saying, "It doesn't matter where I live" Blowing cigarette smoke in the drafty room On sleeting nights, I have no visitors The kettle just keeps whistling Only a dodo bird would believe The whispered tenderness in bed Fooling and being fooled, brought to tears Next thing I know, I'm all alone But I still miss the warmth My skin just keeps cracking I save my coins in a sake bottle Though I have nowhere to go I drink down the cold, leftover sake The bitterness soaks into me I won't go back to my hometown The ice floes just keep creaking