GIVE ME WATER

By Tamiki Hara

Give me water!
		Oh! Give me water to drink! 
Let me have some!
		I want rather to die—
To die!
		Oh! 
Help me, O, help mel
		Water!
				A bit of water!
I beg you! 
		Won't anyone?
				Oh—Oh—Oh—Oh! 
				Oh—Oh—Oh—Oh!

The heaven split;
		The streets are gone; 
The river,
		The river flowing on!
				Oh—Oh—Oh—Oh! 
				Oh—Oh—Oh—Oh!

Night!
		Night coming on
To these eyes parched and sere;
		To these lips inflamed. 
Ah! the moaning of a man,
		Of a man
				Reeling, 
Whose face is
		Scorched, smarting;
				This ruined face of a man!		
					

Tamiki Hara (1905-1951). Writer-poet born and lived in Hiroshima. Terminated a victim-survivor's life by suicide.