2018 : 私と小鳥と鈴と (A Bell, a Bird and Me)

私が両手をひろげても、

お空はちっとも飛べないが、
飛べる小鳥は私のやうに、
地面(じべた)を速くは走れない。

私がからだをゆすっても、
きれいな音は出ないけど、
あの鳴る鈴は私のやうに、
たくさんな唄は知らないよ。

鈴と、小鳥と、それから私、

みんなちがって、みんないい

* * *

No matter how I spread my arms
I can not fly at all,
But unlike me, a flying bird
Can not run fast on ground.

Though I rock my body back and forth
It makes no pretty sounds,
Yet unlike me, a ringing bell
Does not know many songs.

A bell, a bird, and also me,
All are different, all are good.

* * *

11th April 2018

I just opened my browser and typed Google as always. Randomly, I clicked on "I'm feeling lucky" button. 

Ulang Tahun ke-114 Misuzu Kaneko

This photo came up, with the poem "A Bell, a Bird and Me" that was made by Misuzu Kaneko. Misuzu Kaneko was a Japanese poet and today is Misuzu Kaneko's 114th birthday. Her works of poetry were mostly for children, they gave a deep meaning, and some of them were about loneliness. Regrettably, she commited suicide before her 27th birthday, leaving a daughter and the unfaithful husband. 

For other works, there is an illustrated book of Kaneko's poetry, released in 2016 "Are You an Echo? The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko". It is published with English translation. I wonder where can I find it. 

I love the poem from the very first time I read it. What do you think?

*I get my translation from a blog, click here.

*The cover photo was taken in Kyoto, April 2017