Scattered All Over the Earth

by Yōko Tawada

Homo sapiens, they roared, in your frailty you find beauty only in gentle slopes and green fields, in a mild climate, in calm seas and inlets where you can catch fish, in places where even weaklings like you can survive, in scenery with no value except as your home. You’re so pleased with yourselves, singing the praises of what you call natural beauty. When in reality, nature takes no notice of your existence.