About this work
A collection pairs poems received from another poet with responses, then turns to hometown ties, writing, mortality and the memory of Kitahara Hakushu. This English version is an editorial translation for access; the Japanese text remains available alongside it for comparison.
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日本語原文 Japanese original
濱野成秋
歌人三井茂子より四首たまはり、その壱苔の歌
苔むした石に落ちたる一凉の
椿語るがに静もる初冬 茂子
本歌取り。ためらふ心と訪なふ人を想ひて
苔はらひ棕櫚縄結びし関守の
水面に映る手弱女の袖 成秋
もはや絶えなむか、いや蘇りとて嬉しく
みとせおも眠れるシャコバサボテンの
今朝赤々と蕾膨らむ 茂子
本歌取り。想ひ想はれ良き人は逝く
これ吾と君がくれにしサボテンの
参年の春に紅の華咲く 成秋
ひきつめし山の庭なる枯葉鳴る
誰そ歩むやハクビシンなる 茂子
閑居してよそ人の訪れに戸惑ひ
枯葉舞ひしとど濡れたる白路地を
踏み来て乞ふる案内のよそ人 成秋
初春に想ふ人とお茶して
雛の日に君と逢い見む梅の里
ままごと屋にて語る嬉しも 茂子
今年も春は廻り来るが帰らぬ人の俤や何処
雛近し蝋梅の枝掻ひ潜り
訪れし君の笑顔やいずこに 成秋
かくしてわが心は里帰りをしてみるものの
盆暮れと古里おもきいと辛き今年の夏は去年より重き
里人の笑みや太鼓のほとばしり草吹く踊りに吾怯みをり
与謝野晶子の孫女から「われ転向せじ」の御詩賜りて詠める。
汝が志殺伐たるを歓ばず希わくば生きよ超えゐてまほし
苦悩も憤怒も忘れまじ吾らが世代はペンに託すのみにて
吾がペンも吾が書もゐるをる寄り添ひぬ
何処ぞ吾だけ旅立つ朝まで
人の生と文の行方は測りがたき
何故に喰らひて書くや何故に生きて何故死して何故
きのふ城ケ島に遊びて白秋の魂に遭ふて語れり
君問ふな幾年虚し城ケ島数へる指に雨粒の舞ふ
（No.1936は以上）
English translation 英訳
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
Four tanka from the poet Shigeomi Mihoko, the first
On the moss-covered stone, a single coolness falls
Cherry blossoms speak, and the stillness of early winter
Mihoko
Proper tanka. Thinking of the hesitating heart and the visitor
Moss covers the brown rope tied by the gatekeeper
The reflection of a weak woman's sleeve on the water
Nobutaka
Already, it is no longer to be, yet I rejoice, for it is revived
Praise the sleeping sago palm
This morning, the buds swell red
Mihoko
Proper tanka. Thoughts, thoughts, the good person departs
This is the sago palm given to me and you
In the third year's spring, red flowers bloom
Nobutaka
Composed while playing at the Izu Mountain Villa
The withered leaves in the mountain garden are rustling
Who walks here, the white-bellied squirrel
Mihoko
Lonely, I am confused by the visitor's arrival
The white path, drenched by the falling leaves
The visitor begs for guidance
Nobutaka
Thinking of the person I met on the day of the baby festival, and drinking tea
On the day of the baby festival, I meet you in the plum grove
We speak joyfully in the dollhouse
Mihoko
This year, spring again returns, but where is the person who does not return?
Close to the baby festival, the wax plum branches are brushed
Where is the smile of the visitor who came?
Nobutaka
Thus, my heart returns to the village, but
The late summer and the old hometown are bitter this year
This year's summer festival in my hometown, I think perhaps I
Will be afraid of the laughter of the villagers and the drumming
Of the grass swaying dance
Receiving a poem from the granddaughter of Yosano Akiko, 'I will not turn back'
Do not rejoice in your will being crushed, but wish to live
And surpass it, it is wonderful
Do not forget the suffering and anger, our generation
Can only entrust it to the pen
My pen, my writing, they are together
Where is the place where I alone depart
The way of human life and writing is immeasurable
Why do I eat, why do I write, why do I live, why do I die
Yesterday, I played at Jogashima, and met the soul of Shiraaki
You ask, how many years have passed, it is empty
The raindrops dance on the fingers counting Jogashima
(No. 1936 is above)
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.