Akita International Haiku Network

On March 13, 2011, Graziella Dupuy, a Facebook friend of mine, who is a French artist, contributed the following photo with French haiku.

Michael Dylan Welch, a haikuist friend of mine in USA, wrote the original haiku in English, which is translated into French by Graziella Dupuy.

after the quake

the weathervane

  pointing to earth

Here is Japanese translations of the haiku by Hidenori Hiruta.

地震の後地のほう向きし風見かな

Michael Dylan Welch says in the article ‘Studying Haiku’ How Do You Write Haiku?　

in his essays of GRACEGUTS as follows:

In San Francisco’s Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, I had many very direct and powerful experiences during and after the quake. But my favourite earthquake haiku, the one I think seems to have the most truth, is one I partially imagined (actually inspired, as I recall, by the tipped flagpole atop San Fransisco’s Ferry building).                                                                 

You will find the article at the website: http://www.graceguts.com

On March 14, 2011, I received an e-mail from Djurdja Vukelic-Rozic and haiku poets in Croatia, whose subject is Sympathy.

 Dear Hidenori Hiruta-san,

please accept my deepest sympathies in regard to the tragedy happening to your country.  Helpless and so far away, my family and my friends, we think of you and your fellow countrymen and we pray for your strength and well- being.

 Sincerely, haiku poets from Croatia: :

Djurdja, Stjepan, Dubravko, Zeljka, Milena, Vera, Marija,

Malvina, Stanko and many others.:

 On March 21, I received another e-mail from Djurdja Vukelic-Rozic as follows:

 lives stopped             生活は止まった

under the ruins -　　　　廃墟の下で―　

clock still ticking　　　　時計はまだカチカチと動いている

 Jasminka Predojevic, Zagreb, Croatia

 Dear Hidenori-san,

 a friend of mine sent this haiku to me, after watching TV. Most haiku poets are in contact and full of sorrow. 

We all wish you and the people of Japan much strength and patience, Peace within the Earth itself, to let you start over, once again. 

I can’t imagine cherries blossoming above the ruins, if they survived! I think of them as the tears of the Earth as an excuse for that had happened.  This is my poem for you and my Japanese friends. Sending you most sincere regards,

Djurdja and family and friends…

 A Bloody Tear Raising from the Ocean  

大洋から巻き上がってくるむごい狂暴

 A bloody tear raising from the ocean　　大洋から巻き上がってくるむごい狂暴

while the daydreamers of the large world still sleep  大きな世界の夢想がまだ眠りし間

a single wave swallows dreams in one motion

not enough time left even to cry, to weep

たった一つの波が一回の動きで夢をのみこむ    叫んだり、涙を流すことにさえ残された時間もなく

 As if a dirty game of mighty nightmares    あたかも強力な悪夢の汚いゲームのように

apocalypse’s bird landed on its nest　　　この世の終わりの日に飛ぶ鳥が巣に降りて

raising sun without care on its own path　 あたりを配慮することなく自分だけの行く手に太陽を昇らせ

yet not for a moment is there rage or wrath   そこには激怒や憤怒も一瞬の間もいまだない

Has burning passion of the thinking man ceased   考える人の燃えるような情熱はもうなくなり

or he needs to feel the strength of a freed beast    また彼には自由になった獣の力を感じる必要があり

put the destruction plans to rest forever　 破壊のプランを永久に保留にする必要もあり

there is enough passion in the Earth’s anger　地球の怒りには十分な激情がある

 On the lawn survivor of tragedy’s tear　　　　悲劇の狂暴から生き残った芝生には

innocent crocus budding as if a spear　 無邪気なクロッカスがつぼみをつける、あたかも槍の

ears eavesdrop for inward boom again, again　 穂が内側のとどろきを再三傍受するかのように

nothing is to blame among those who remain   残っている者には何ら責められることはない

A bloody tear raising from the  ocean　大洋から巻き上がってくるむごい狂暴

mother Earth plays hymn to life on its organ   母なる地球はそのオルガンで生への賛美歌を演奏する

the Sun, pure as a loving father can be　太陽は愛情に満ちた父の如く純粋で

only dewdrops on that crocus, aren’t we?   私たちはあのクロッカスに落ちる単なる露のしずくではないだろうか？

Here, please let me post three photos taken in Miharu-machi（三春町）in Fukushima prefecture（福島県）and my haiku.

  三春の地千古の桜守りけり

 Miharu’s earth

keeps everlasting cherries

over one thousand years

 Here, let me tell you about Miharu-machi.

 Miharu (三春町; -machi) is a town located in Tamura District, Fukushima, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 19,454 and a density of 267.37 persons per km². The total area is 72.76 km².

Miharu and Rice Lake, Wisconsin,United States, have been sister cities since 1987. Jeana Schieffer helped begin this relationship and continued helping with the sister city program until 2007. Miharu is the home of the only American style bed and breakfast inJapan. It was built in 1993 by American and Japanese carpenters. All of the furnishings are American. Since its opening, some one fromRiceLake has lived and worked there. As of April 2007, the Rice Lake International House will be run by volunteers of the Miharu International Friendship Association (MIFA).

The name “Miharu” in Japanese means three springs. In most parts of Japan, plum, peach, and cherry trees blossom at different times, but in Miharu, they blossom almost simultaneously. Miharu is home of one of the national treasure cherry trees. Takizakura, or waterfall cherry tree （滝桜）, is over 1000 years old and brings tourists from all over Japan to see it in the springtime

Lastly, let me post two photos taken in Miharu-machi（三春町）in Fukushima prefecture（福島県）.

  The next posting ‘Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (10) ‘  appears on July 2.

 ―　Hidenori Hiruta