Valediction

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
That I could not have convinced you of this,

But these dark times are just like those dark times.
Yes, my sad acquaintance, each dark time is

Indistinguishable from the other dark times
Yesterday is as relentless as tomorrow.

There is no relief to be found in this,
But, please, " Yours is not the worst of sorrows."

Chekhov wrote that. He meant it as comfort
And I mean it as comfort, too, but why

Should you believe us? You didn't believe us.
You killed yourself because your last dark time

Was the worst, I guess, of many dark times.
None of me verse could have saved your life.

You were a stranger. You were dark and brief.
And I am humbled by the size of your grief.


Sherman Alexie


告別の辞

知ってる、知ってる、知ってる、知ってる、知ってる
僕には君を説得できなかった

だけどこの陰鬱な日々も　今までの陰鬱な日々と同じようなもの
そうだよ、僕の知ってる悲しい人　それぞれの陰鬱な日々は

他全部の陰鬱な日々と見分けがつかない
昨日は明日と同じように　絶え間ない

こう考えたって安堵を得ない　というのは知っている
でも　ほら　「君の不幸が最悪の不幸ではない」

チェーホフが書いた　慰めを意味して
僕もそこに　慰めを見る　だけどなぜ

僕達を信じなくてはいけないのかって？君は僕達を信じなかった
自殺したのは　君の最後の陰鬱な日々が

最悪の不幸だったからだろ　きっと　
僕の詩は何一つと君を救わなかった

僕は君を知らない　君は陰鬱で　あっさり
君の嘆きの大きさの前で　僕はつつましい