A Dollop of Free-form Haiku

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.