In one of the newspapers there was an article about Toyo Shibata which I found really interesting and decided to write about her to you. Cause I am sure, many of you will fins her story inspiring and will may be look up her poems on the web as well.
Toyo Shibata
Source: livejourna.com |
Toyo Shibata (born June 26, 1911) is a best selling Japanese poet, her first anthology Kujikenaide (Don`t Lose Heart) published in 2009 sold 1,5 million copies. (As a comparison poetry book sales of 10,000 are already considered as successful in Japan.) The anthology contains 42 poems.
Quite interesting story how all this started: at the age of 92 Shibata was forced to give up her hobby Japanese classical dance because of back pain. Her son advised her to try write poetry, she took the advice and well she became extremely successful in it as you can see. She published her second anthology on Sept. 13. 2011 with many poems focusing on the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11.
Poems
I found these two translations below on the From Tokyo to the World blog (I want to go to Tokyo!!!)
ぽたぽたと
蛇口から落ちる涙は
止まらない。
どんなに辛く
どんなに辛く
悲しいことがあっても
いつまで
くよくよしていては
だめ。
思いきり
蛇口を捻って
一気に涙を
流してしまうの。
さあ、新しいカップで
コーヒー飲みましょう。
Dripping
Water from the tap
Doesn't stop
Dripping
Water from the tap
Doesn't stop
No matter how hard,
Even if you are sad
Even if you are sad
No matter what
Brooding over it
Won’t do
With all your heart
With all your heart
Close the tap.
All at once, the tears
Will be shed.
Come now, let’s have some coffee
Come now, let’s have some coffee
九十を越えた今
一日一日が
とてもいとおしい
頬をなでる風
友からの電話
訪れてくれる人たち
それぞれが
私に
生きる力を
与えてくれる
Now I’ve passed 90
Each day is
Each day is
So precious
The wind that brushes my cheek
The wind that brushes my cheek
A phone call from a friend
The people who come to visit
Each of them in their way
Each of them in their way
Give me
The strength to live.
Below some more translated poems from the blog Wednesday Afternoon Picnic
「返事」My Reply
風が 耳元で
「もうそろそろ
あの世に
行きましょう」
なんて 猫撫で声で
誘うのよ
だから 私
すぐに返事をしたの
「あと少し
こっちに居るわ
やり残した
事があるから」
風は
困った顔をして
すーっと帰って行った
In my ears the wind
Invites me
In intoxicating tones
"Shall we go now
To the other side?"
To the other side?"
So, I
Quickly replied
"I'll stay here
Just a bit longer
There are still some things
Left undone"
The wind
With a pout on her face
Swiftly returned from whence it came
「秘密」A Secret
私ね 死にたいって
思ったことが
何度もあったの
でも 詩を作り始めて
多くの人に励まされ
今はもう
泣きごとは言わない
九十八歳でも
恋はするのよ
夢だってみるの
雲にだって乗りたいわ
何度もあったの
でも 詩を作り始めて
多くの人に励まされ
今はもう
泣きごとは言わない
九十八歳でも
恋はするのよ
夢だってみるの
雲にだって乗りたいわ
You know, I've thought
So many times
That I wanted to die
But I started writing poetry
And have been encouraged by so many people
So now
I won't complain anymore
Even at 98
I love
And I dream
I want to ride on a cloud
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