Japan Society of Fairfield County
Tanka(7)
by Dr. Ikuko Anjo Jassey
雨水舐めネズミを喰らう国があり過食戒む国もまたある
u su i na me ne zu mi o ku ra u ku ni ga a ri
ka sho ku i ma shi mu ku ni mo ma ta a ru
Drinking rainwater and eating rats
no other choice in some nations
Warned against their excessive eating
their choice in other nations
五十代ヒップホップを見て聞いて昼間の月をひっくり返す
go ju u da i hi ppu ho ppu o mi te
ki i te hi ru ma no tsu ki o hi kku ri ka e su
A woman in her fifties
watching and listening hip-hop
turning over the moon in the day sky
少しだけ疲れた風情のヨットあり＜愛人二号＞そういうことか
su ko shi da ke tsu ka re ta hu ze i no yo tto
a ri <a i ji n ni go o> so u i u ko to ka
A floating boat
Appearing a little bit tired
Inscribed on her side
“My Mistress II”—No wonder
ネメシスの裂けた口から平和など産まれると思うか君は
ne me shi su no sa ke ta ku chi ka ra he i wa
na do u ma re ru to o mo u ka ki mi wa
Do you really believe
peace is born
from the split mouth
of Nemesis?
いんげんの莢をあければさみどりの豆粒三つ経読みおえる
i n ge n no sa ya o a ke re ba sa mi do ri
no ma me tsu bu mi ttsu kyo o yo mi o e ru
Opening the shell of kidney beans,
three little green ones
just finished chanting a sutra
憎しみや怒りの素地を訪ぬれば吾こそ正義と思う心よ
ni ku shi mi ya i ka ri no so ji o
ta zu nu re ba wa re ko so se i gi to o mo u ko
ko ro yo
Locating the source
of our anger or hatred,
it is nothing but
our self-righteousness
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