THE KINDNESS OF HIS KIND

with soft and clean hands
we are bridging a gap
his homeland, my dreamland
yearning teaches me its map

i hang on his unfailing lines
above a scenic ravine
dread tingles my spine
yet i am serene
i'm safe
he's a well-oiled machine
this friend of mine

he says all the right things
thorough and so obliging
he enlightens
his wide-eyed little gaijin

the kindness of his kind
reduces me to tears
i told him my fears
he told me not to mind
he taught me what to say
and as he disappears
he teaches me to pine
their way

sabishisa ni
yado wo tachiidete
nagamureba, izuko mo onaji
aki no yūgure*

[* http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/hyakunin/hyakua.html #70]

bombitza