by Kane Maida
Topaazu no yama no itadaki mashiro nimo wata wo kamurite utsukushiki kana
Topaz Mountain
its peak crowned
with pure-white cotton
how beautiful!
Jūgatsu no sue ni hayaku mo konayuki no mizore no furite samusa hageshiki
At October’s end
sleet already falls
like powdery snow
bitter the cold.
Fuyu no yo no hie no hageshisa hokko nado oto tatete fuku okuni no omoide
Piercing cold
of winter’s night,
wind blows, rattling
the north-facing door,
prompting memories of my homeland.