一つの楕円の中つつじ咲いて二階の女
–福島一思
An azalea blooming
in an ellipse
The woman on the second floor
–Fukushima Hitoomoi*
手から手へ渡る雀の卵のさびしさ
–松井千代吉
Passed from hand to hand
The loneliness of a sparrow egg
–Matsui Chiyokichi
雪につもるひめごと能面しずかに胸にたたむ
–安井栄美子
I
The snow accumulates
Secrets like noh masks
Quietly kept in the heart
II
The snow piles up
Secrets kept
Silent as noh masks
III
Snow accumulates
Secrets noh-mask-silent
Held in the heart
–Yasui Emiko
NOTES:
*一思: According to a Japanese names dictionary, this is pronounced Hitoomoi. According to other dictionaries, it could be pronounced Isshi or Itsuji. I’ll assume the naming dictionary is correct for now.