故郷の御心
February 8, 2021
by Seishu Hamano
故郷の友人を亡くし、その御心を讃へて詠める。
Dear Ikuo Yasumoto
You passed away from this weary world
Not leaving any massage to me.
It was only yesterday when I was writing a last Words note to my family and
Wished to hear your frank comments.
Calling you up by phone, but unexpectedly Heard your beloved wife reluctantly saying that he is no more in this world…
On the last day in January this year,
You vanished away to the unknown world
never coming back again.
Alas! I had no idea what to say, what to do,
Only because you were so reliable and healthy,
Un-comparable with me.
親愛なる安本郁夫君
貴君は吾人に何ほどの 言葉も遺さず唐突に
この浮き憂き世から去り給ひぬ。
昨日のことであった、我は遺言書を書いていて君のコメントが欲しくて電話した。と、
奥方出られ神妙に 打ち明けられしに驚きぬ
夫君は何処もはやこの世の人に非ずと。
今年になりてこの１月、最後の日に
夫君は未知の黄泉へと旅立ちて
二度と還らぬ人となりしと。
何と！ 我は茫然自失、
君は実に頼もしく健康で
吾人とは比べ物にならぬほどでありたるに。
Dear Ikuo, we often joked
Our grave very close and even after death
Let’s meet often and enjoy karaoke after dark
Which might cause claim from neighbors.
Ikuo and I were in the same class in Tomioka Higashi Elementary School, growing up to be a farmer and I a teacher and writer, both were
Creatures benevolent to this life world.
You’re actually very benevolent and faithful.
親愛なる安本君、生前よく冗談
飛ばし合ひたるぞ、彼我の墓所も近隣ゆえ
墓友達ともなりし故 日暮れと共に会ひ交え
歌会なるも一興ぞ。宵ともなれば彼の双墓は
騒がしきやと近所から
クレームありても然るべき。
君とは登美丘東小学校でも同級ぞ、
長じて汝は農家にて 吾は教師で物書きに。
されど生きとし生けるもの
かけたる愛に代わりなし。
貴君はいつも誠実で思いやりに満ち溢れ。
Human is mortal. Even a shogun
Nobody in Edo period stay alive.
Nevertheless always expecting eternity
Never could we realize but in the end
Stay under the cold stone.
Drums in the village festival sound pity
‘Cause no pedestrians are my acquaintance
But so far as our home village is same,
Our friendship will last forever in our mutual heart
Even after our flesh decayed away.
人間誰しもいずれは死ぬるもの。
江戸期の人で今もって生存する者誰もなし。
将軍様とて現身の果てぬを願ひて神仏に
永遠の生をば希いつつ気づけば冷たき墓の下。
ふるさとの祭り太鼓は哀しけれ
路ゆく人のみな変はり居て
されど故郷よ奥津城よ互いの心に宿れるは
同じ思いぞ変りなし
たとえ血肉は尽きるとも。
Joroku, a cozy utopia, filled with mercy,
Every summer tapping drums singing Kawachi-ondo
Good memory not only to the living but also to the dead,
Mercy, mercy is the best alive forever.
Ikuo Yasumoto and I do believe
We are so happy
Born and brought up here
In this Kawachi country,
Staying forever together with our ancestors.
丈六こそは桃源郷。慈悲の心に満ち溢れ
夏ともなれば太鼓の音。河内音頭の
想い出は死しても変はることなしに
人は変はれど思いやる心は朽ちず果てもせず。
安本君よ、君も吾も幸せぞ 河内に生まれし
先達と 共に永劫暮しをる。 合掌