Solitude Tanka

English Original:

I close
the valves of my heart
to the world of red dust
solitude and I
are now of the same race

Japanese Translation by Hidenori Hiruta

塵の世に心臓弁を我閉じる孤独と我は今同種なり

(Note: Red dust is a Buddhist set-phrase for the world and its passions)

Akita International Haiku Network (Oct. 30, 2010)