Madoka Mayuzumi[Poems of 17syllables]Title



[Japanease]

Bush clover blossoms, safflowers, ring finger to apply rouge.

There is something flowery about a woman getting ready to go out. Where is she going? Who is she meeting? Is she dressing to say good-bye to someone or to begin a new romance? In any event, a woman applies her lip-rouge as if it is a prologue to a drama about to unfold. The deep pink blossoms of the bush clover in the garden are trembling at the window and in her mirror as she applies her lip-rouge.

The third finger (not counting the thumb) is called the "lip-rouge applying finger". Women use this finger to casually apply or smooth out lip-rouge. Although the third finger is not used as often as other fingers, we use it to apply lip-rouge and to wear our wedding rings. For women, unlike men, the third finger may have a special meaning.

A woman's lips are beautifully painted with the third finger. And the third finger moves very delicately to apply her lip-rouge. The quiet signs of autumn surround the Japanese woman as she applies lip-rouge for her very special day.

This haiku in the Japanese language has a pleasant repetition of the "s" sound in words like "susuki", "sasu", "kusuri".

[season word] bush clover flowers, safflower
[season] autumn

The stars flying capriciously, while I think of you.

I was looking up at the sky and thinking of my special someone.
Then suddenly I saw a star fly quietly out of sight.
We can never see a shooting star when we wait for one, we never know when and where it will come fromor where it will disappear to.
Because they come out of no where so suddenly, we often miss them if we are not alert.

While I was thinking of the uncertainty, affection, excitement, and so on that I feel towards him, the shooting star suddenly appeared and disappeared from sight.
He, too, expresses his gentleness quite unexpectedly and sometimes suddenly becomes moody.
Just as his capricious behavior makes it impossible to pinpoint his feelings, so too, the shooting star flies capriciously across the sky.
[season words] stars flying
[season] autumn

Crouching in the autumn breeze, no intention of responding.

In the autumn breeze a young girl is walking with her boyfriend along the street.
When the boy asks her something, the girl suddenly stops and sits crouching along the roadside.
"What is the matter?" he wonders not knowing what is wrong with her.

There is no serious reason on her part. Maybe she simply found a pretty flower on the roadside, or she is a little tired from walking.
When she crouched down, perhaps she was showing him that moodiness only girls sometimes display in order to tease.
She shows no sign of responding to his request to know what is the matter.

To "put him at his wit's end", or to "let him worry a little longer"; maybe that is her feminine intent.

[season words] autumn breeze
[season] autumn

An acorn, rolling on the ground wishing to be picked up.

Whether it just fell off the tree or I kicked it without my knowing it, an acorn was rolling around at my feet. An acorn with its cup looks something like a person's face. The way it is rolling it seems to be saying, "Pick me up and play with me!"

This haiku describes an object, but the same can be said about a human subject.

For example, it could describe a child who cries to get attention, or a girl who purposely fails in front of a man just to be noticed. Do you know anyone like that?

[season words] acorn
[season] autumn

Getting ready for winter life, holding onto all of the important things.

November 7th or 8th by western calendars or "ritto" by old Japanese calendars is "the first day of winter". With respect to haiku it is the day that the season officially becomes winter.

It is often said, "If you want happiness, throw away one of your important belongings".
Of course, I am aware of this.
I also know, it is a fragile balancing act to try to keep on top of everything, like love, job, family, friends, hobbies and dreams without giving anything up.

Young people now-a-days characteristically bite off more than they can chew.
How is it possible to let go of any of those things that are all-important to you?

Now it is going to be winter, and to let go of even one thing is to leave an empty spot in your heart.
Therefore, I get ready for winter without giving up anything at all.

[season words] get ready for winter
[season] winter

translated by Mineko Azuma


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