About this work

A repeated expression of gratitude gathers the people whose kindness has sustained the speaker. The poem ends by turning thankfulness into a wish to become such a presence for someone else.

Parallel reading

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日本語原文 Japanese original

おかげ様　　高鳥奈緒　　　2023.10.14
　
おかげ様
今まで何とかやってこられました
　
おかげ様
いつも誰かに救われてきました
　
おかげ様
周りが優しい目に溢れていたから
　
おかげ様
今がありますことに感謝
　
おかげ様
わたしも、その様な者になりたい

English translation 英訳

AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.

Thanks to you,
somehow I have made it this far.

Thanks to you,
someone has always come to my aid.

Thanks to you,
those around me looked upon me with kindness.

Thanks to you,
I am grateful to be where I am today.

Thanks to you,
I, too, want to become someone like that.

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Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.