Heart Mountain Senryū Association

Tsuyuki Roshō†

Harboring resentment in one’s heart, bitterness

To want to live walking on the earth, enduring suffering

Hometown soil, the feeling of wanting to be it, spirit of encouragement

Since having a child, my diary has become even more subdued

At the dawn rain, yesterday’s exhaustion reemerges

 

Tsunaga Yoshio†

Let’s challenge life, morning toothpaste

Imagining an enjoyable future, sweating everyday for it

Plain and unornamented, they think we prefer it

Where public drinking isn’t allowed, drunken staggering

Coming through the gate to the relocation camp, the bus window

 

Mizoguchi Hikari†

Stop with the excuses—my friend smiles

Once again pushing aside cleaning debt, “Housewife’s Friend”¹

Once again putting off housework to read Housewife’s Friend

From her seat, the tourist woman weeping

My will to stand up, collapsing into emotions

The rough waves of this fleeting life, leave steering to the wind

 

Yoshida Seiko†

After crossing six states, the isolated train cars finally arrive

Had just settled, then driven away— Heart Mountain

A return to the coast seems unlikely, autumn loneliness

A forty-year-old diary, burned it and left

Life’s been knocked off course, this internment camp

 

Kurihara Chikusui†

The goat eats grass in a circle at the end of the chain, too luxurious

Such messy hair, the mother says, fixing the futon

Read sister’s letter, sarcastic mysterious writing

Right after a hot bath, beware, if napping might catch a cold

 

Maruse Hamako

“It’s possible to extract blood from a stone,” a wife’s wit

To selfishly want things from each other, friendly intimacy

Know yourself, give up lofty dreams

Yawning and napping, spring evening

When domineering emerges, Buddha becomes a demon

 

Itō Nanpo†

Impartial opinions in the assembly hall, silent listening

Daydreaming eyes, following the tobacco smoke ring’s trail

To clear mental clouds, a visit to the temple

The product I want, its price gives me pause

Making an appearance at work, everything’s normal

 

Nishida Kiichi*

Relocated to Fort Lincoln, they must have their own opinion

Preparing to endure, in this place of exile the moon smiles

Even in giving up there is a certain pleasure

Thinking of our resoluteness as a people

A bride gets married off, feels like the mother’s been taken away

 

Mihara Goichi†

Why don’t you take responsibility, the child opines

Decide in advance what to bring when the alarm sounds

The perfect weather on this plateau, can’t carelessly praise it

Only the child knows the canteen’s hours

Can’t just blame what tempts me

 

Itō Tokuo

Cactus flower, innocent hands reach for it

Pouting in public, the child realizes its power

Season’s first harvest, fought over and quickly sold

In a place of resentment, a flower field grows

Life floats and sinks, a drifting boat

 

Nishida Takatoshi*

For a young man’s spirit, this place is too small

Seeing rain, mother holds an umbrella of compassion

Found an excuse to go out and find love

With a sick child, crying upon receiving the relocation order

Around when the memorial tree blooms, sewing baby clothes

 

Seto Kozan†

Big hope for tomorrow, exit this fenced place

Becoming a nameplate, the piece of wood also becomes respected

Life in this place of exile, too lonely for one

At least there’s some comfort in daily lessons

As I visited the late Kahou-sensei, I told his spirit clearly the weight of being a representative