Three Poems by Shinsaku Ashida

 

Trap

I grew up
being told
that traps
are set all over the world,
and so I became
an adult
without confidence.

The rabbit
had learned
to understand the fear
of those who set the traps.
It had grown used
to humans.
And yet,
even on the familiar meadow,
it couldn’t run
straight ahead.

Though there were
no traps anymore,
the rabbit
still lived a life
always wary of them—
wishing this life
would pass by
quickly.

The rabbit
stares at the wind
blowing through the meadow.

The Boat

Because the boat exists,
it can feel the waves.
Because the boat exists,
it can carry itself forward.
Sometimes the boat forgets
how it can stay afloat
on the surface of the sea.
Sometimes it loses the sense
of the waves altogether.
Sometimes it loses sight
of where it is being taken.
Sometimes the boat hurts itself.
It is the boat
that has carried itself this far.
Without the boat,
it would never have known
the deep blue of the open sea.
The boat chased the seagulls.
The boat is shaped
to move forward,
on top of the waves.

Ball

When night comes,
those who told me not to expect
are no longer here.
No one remains
to take responsibility
for saying so.

Those who deflated
others' balls
didn't truly understand
what a ball is.
I didn't know
where to pump in air—
because I was
too hard on myself.

Now,
it's enough
to feel as if
air is filling it.
It's okay
to start expecting
of myself.
No need
to think beyond that.

A ball rolls
to reach
the bottom of the hill.
It doesn't bounce
because it's waiting
for air to fill it.
Even when no one's around,
it bounces—
remembering
the joy
of being a ball.

Shinsaku Ashida is a Tokyo-based poet whose work delves into the intricate interplay between memory, loss, and the human condition. His poetry has been featured in over 160 literary outlets—130 in Japan and 30 across six other countries—and recognized in several international competitions. In addition to free verse, Ashida is an accomplished writer of traditional Japanese forms, including tanka and haiku. He has authored three books in Japan, encompassing fiction and other genres, and is currently preparing his first comprehensive poetry anthology for international publication. Ashida continues to seek opportunities for global dialogue through poetry.