igordog

One of the most haunting songs I've ever known.
It's adapted from a Turkish poem by Nazim Hikmet



I come and stand at every door
But no one hears my silent tread
I knock and yet remain unseen
For I am dead, for I am dead.

I'm only seven although I died
In Hiroshima long ago
I'm seven now as I was then
When children die they do not grow.

My hair was scorched by swirling flame
My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind
Death came and turned my bones to dust
And that was scattered by the wind.

I need no fruit, I need no rice
I need no sweet, nor even bread
I ask for nothing for myself
For I am dead, for I am dead.

All that I ask is that for peace
You fight today, you fight today
So that the children of this world
May live and grow and laugh and play.


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The last line always seemed like it was of a different flavor to me. It didn't seem to mesh with the rest of the song: The child asking people to 'fight'
Here's a direct translation from the original poem, with a much more honest and childlike wish at the end: a prayer for peace and candy


Little Girl

It's me who knocks
the doors one by one.
You can't see me
--the deads are invisible.

It has been around ten years
since I've dead in Hiroshima.
I'm seven years old
--dead children do not grow.

First my hair caught fire,
my eyes burnt.
I've turned into a handful of ash,
and that was scattered into the air.

I don't ask you for anything
for myself.
I child who burns like a piece of paper
cannot eat even candy, anyway.

I knock your door,
dear lady, dear sir, give me your signature
so that children won't get killed,
so that they can eat candy.


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