"I will put my day forward"

March 11, 2011

That quake
The affected town was filled with the smell of utility gas leak
The shattered glasses all around and fallen walls
Roof tiles had fallen.
Our station and bridge were collapsed and fallen.

I sheltered to the elementary school.
The flickering of light from the candles.
I shared the warm of blanket with other unknown people
The ground rumbling and followed by the incessant aftershocks
Four pieces of cracker (biscuit) and a paper cupful of water
The sense of incoming "death" got real to me.
This reflection made me a rude awakening
that I left nothing in my real view of my past footsteps 

Then I wondered if I could get out of this hell
A desire occurred to me that something only I could realize
Even one thing ..., I would like to make it happen
That's the strong promise I made to myself

The next morning came.
In the clear open sky of Ibaraki Prefecture
I could see the one white plum
was proudly in full bloom.

I made a vow;
"I will put my day forward"
Someone helped us through preparing the emergency foods
Cleaned toiled in the this emergency evacuation place
Thanks to the labor by someone using the water from the swimming pool
What I could do to show my thanks to their big favors
Writing many poems for this special memorial
Using ventriloquism for the entertainment

The meaning of happiness that I would like to find out,
it was out there in the footing with crack and break from the quake

生きていこう

2001年3月11日

あの震災
街にガスが充満し
ガラスが割れ　壁が崩れ
瓦が落ちた
駅が橋が崩落した

逃げ込んだ小学校
ローソクの明かりの中で
見知らぬ人とわかちあった毛布
地鳴りと共にやってくる余震
四枚のクラッカーと紙コップ一杯の水
私は初めて「死」を予感した
そして自分が人生に何の足跡をも
残していないことを恥じた

この悪夢から抜け出せるなら
自分にしかできないことを
一つでいいからなしとげよう
そう心にちかった

朝は来た
晴れわたった茨城の空に
一輪の白梅が
ほこらしげに咲いていた

私はちかった
「生きていこう」と
炊き出しをしてくれた人
避難所のトイレを
プールの水で掃除してくれた人
その恩返しに私ができること
それが大好きな詩を書くこと
大好きな腹話術を演じること

私の探していた幸せは
震災でひび割れた足下に落ちていた