Japan Society of Fairfield County
Tanka(8)
by Dr. Ikuko Anjo Jassey
限度あり＜分かる＞ということ曖昧にしてあなたの気持ち分かるはずない
ge n do a ri < wa ka ru > to i u ko to a i ma i ni shi te a na
ta no ki mo chi wa ka ru ha zu na i
A limitation
to “understanding”
relative and ambiguous
Understanding you
How could I—really
栗の実が泡立ち煮立つ頃までに怒りはすっと収まりて消ゆ
ku ri no mi ga a wa da chi ni ta tsu ko ro ma de ni i ka
ri wa su tto o sa ma ri te ki yu
By the time
chestnuts stir up bubbles
the boiling starts;
my anger dissipates softly
蓮華もてすくいあげたる湯豆腐の崩れやすきは愛ににており
re n ge mo te su ku i a ge ta ru yu do o hu no ku zu re ya su ki wa
a i ni ni te o ri
Tohu
lifted up with a porcelain spoon
from a hot pot—
crumbling like love
蕎麦の実のとんがりみたいな鋭角は更年期のせいと思うことにする
so ba no mi no to n ga ri mi ta i na e i ka ku wa ko o ne n ki no se
i to o mo u ko to ni su ru
An acute angle of my character
like a buckwheat chaff
is a byproduct of my menopause;
I would think it is
見つめいる君が眼差し初夏の私の氷河を融かし始める
mi tsu me i ru ki mi ga ma na za shi ha tsu na tsu no wa ta shi no
hyo o ga o to ka shi ha ji me ru
Your affectionate gaze
slowly and quietly
melting my glacier—
Summertime
信号は＜女の曲がり角＞クレープの薄さのような日常であるよ
shi n go o wa < o n na no ma ga ri ka do > ku re e
pu no u su sa no yo o na ni chi jo o de a ru
Menopause—the signal
A turning point
Thin are my days
just like a crepe
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