Zoo Poem by Shuntaro Tanikawa

Bathed by tree filtered sun,
my little girl rides a 'monkey train'
when she comes closer I feel happy
when she goes away I feel sad
every third time around I failed pressing the shutter.

There are lots of families just like us
I don't feel happier than them
I don't feel less happy than them
yet, my mood slowly darkens.

The elephant raises and lowers its trunk
the crocodile continues to quiestly exist
the deer leaps
what kind of animal can I be called?

(Translated by Harold Wright)