Japan Society of Fairfield County
Tanka(16)
by Dr. Ikuko Anjo Jassey
枯れ草を舐むる炎の一柱空を駆け抜け龍神となる
ka re ku sa o na mu ru ho no o no hi to ha shi
ra ku u o ka ke nu ke ryu u ji n to na ru
A column of fire
licking the winter grass
flew up through the air
It became a dragon
わが故国恋しと思えどもの言わばひょうきんになるじゃがたらお春
wa ga ko ko ku ko i shi to o mo e do mo no i wa
ba kyo o ki n ni na ru ja ga ta ra o ha ru
Longing for the homeland
yet becoming humorous
in utterance
a foreign bride
寺守が去りて寺守る人もなく寺守るものは野菊さざんか
te ra mo ri ga sa ri te te ra mo ru hi to mo na
ka te ra mo ru mo no wa no gi ku sa za n ka
A caregiver took leave;
the temple abandoned—
wild mums and sasanquas;
protectors they became—
故郷には夜盗いるらし菜の花の畑のむこうの山盗られたり
ko kyo o ni wa ya to o i ru ra shi na no ha no
no ha ta ke no mu ko o no ya ma to ra re ta ri
A night thief wanders
a mountain stolen
over the fields
of rape blossoms
there lies my birthplace
花柄の傘を広げて立春の先取りをするひと月早く
ha na ga ra no ka sa o hi ro ge te ri s shu n
no sa ki do ri o su ru hi to tsu ki ha ya ku
Opening
a flower-patterned umbrella
announcing
“the first day of spring”
earlier by one month
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