MITSUKO TAKAMSU

―translated. from the Japanese by Toshiya Kamei

 

WHEAT  HARVEST  PRAYER

 

A chickadee chirps

as if pecking at the smell of early summer.

While I'm looking up to a buttermilk sky,

golden yellow spikes of wheat come to mind,

and I remember the time when my younger brother

was a little boy dashing through a wheat field.

 

When did these black crows

land on my brother's wheat field in our memory?

He has broken his back

and fought against the urban crows

while smothering his screams.

 

Now far from the gleam of the ears of wheat,

he walks in the shadows of trees

while shouldering the weight of his illness

without complaining.

I can't find the words to say.

 

My brother gave me courage at that time

and cared for our mother until the end.

I want to gather a lot of gentle fruits he made

and make medicines that will reach his heart.

 

As long as the nostalgia of my hometown

gives him the power to live,

I'll cook him a lot of hometown dishes.

 

But I feel frustrated

for failing to erase his sadness.

My eyes become moist

and the ears of wheat become blurred

 

The chirping of the chickadee

gets mixed with the voice of my brother who loves the mountains,

gives colors to hydrangeas,

and heralds the arrival of the rainy season.

 

I pray to the time of wheat harvest

so that he’ll have tomorrow’s page.

　

MITSUKO TAKAMSU

 

四十雀（シジュウカラ）が

初夏の匂いをついばむようにさえずっています

空に並ぶうろこ雲をみあげていると

黄金色に色付いた麦秋が目に浮かび

麦畑を元気に走り回っていた

幼い頃の弟が蘇ります

 

思い出の弟の麦畑に

黒いカラスが舞い下りたのはいつからなのか

弟は生きる悲鳴は忍ぱせたまま

身を削りながら都会のカラスと戦ってきたのでしょうか

 

麦秋の明るさからは遠のいた今

病を背負った弟は樹下の暗がりを歩いています

弱気をはかない弟に

姉さんはかける言葉が見つかりません

 

あのとき姉さんを力づけてくれた弟よ

最期まで慈しんで母さんを見送ってくれた弟よ

あなたが実らせたいくつものやさしい果実を

いっぱい　いっぱい集めて

あなたの心に届く薬を姉さんは作りたいのです

 

故郷の懐かしさが

生きる力になってくれるのなら

姉さんは精いっぱい

故郷の料理をたくさん作りましょう

 

けれどあなたの哀しみを

塗り替えられないもどかしさが

麦の穂波がかすむほど

姉さんの眼を濡らしています

 

四十雀の鳴き声は

山を恋うる弟の声をからめて

紫陽花を少し色づかせ

梅雨の前触れを知らせています

 

姉さんは麦秋の季節に

あなたの明日のページを今日も祈っています