Japan Society of Fairfield County
Tanka(10)
by Dr. Ikuko Anjo Jassey
下仁田の葱を片手に霜柱釈迦釈迦ふみて亡母くる月夜
Shimonita no negi o katate ni
shimobashira shakashaka humite haha kuru tsukuyo
In a moonlit night
in her hand—shimonita leeks still in dirt
My departed mom returns
stepping on frost columns
making crisp sounds
お袋は種を残せと言ったっけ俺のことだか芋のことだか
Ohukuro wa tane o nokose to ittakke ore no
koto daka imo no koto daka
Mom told me to save seeds
I’m not sure what she meant—
Me or potatoes
ひび割れた心に金糊の継を入れ汲みあげんとや夢のしずくを
Hibiwareta kokoro ni kin no tsugi o ire
kumiagen toya yume no shizuku o
Mending a cracked heart
with a gold patch
You say you will tow
drips of dreams
一生は思いの華の果実らし今日食むぶどう種ありて酸い
Issho wa omoi no hana no kajitsu rashi
kyo hamu budoo tane arite sui
Someone says
life is a fruit of thoughts—
grapes I taste today
seedy and sour
藕糸をば切らんとすれど切れるよで切れぬ寂しい朧の月夜
Guushi o ba kiran to suredo kireru
yode kirenu sabishii oborono tsukiyo
Trying to cut off my arrogance
seemingly I can disconnect it, but I can’t
A hazy moonlit night—
lonesome
咲き遅れこんなにも紅 薮椿 粉雪の舞う弥生九日
Saki okure konnani mo kurenai
yabutsubaki konayuki no mau yayoi kokonoka
A late blooming camellia—so red
March ninth
powdery snow dancing
すげ替えた紅い鼻緒がまた切れて泣いているよな昭和の日暮れ
Suge kaeta akai hanao ga mata kirete
naite iru yona showa no higure
An evening glow of the Showa era—
as if it were sobbing
the fixed red thongs over wooden clogs
snapped again
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