Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo.

To the Ocean
Kath Abela Wilson & Mariko Kitakubo
Mariko Kitakubo, English-Japanese Translator

1.The Beginning

in the sea
a quickening
a rocking lullaby
inside you
my tanka was born　（Kath Abela Wilson）

waga tanka / kimi no kaina ni / umaretari / komoriuta yurete / umi ni yomitgaeru

one drop
of my dream
becomes
a pale pink bud
under the starry sky　（Mariko Kitakubo）

usubeni no / tsubomi to nareru / hitoshizukuno / wagayumehiraku / hoshizora no moto

inside the rose
first word
first steps
open wide the petals
of the moon's garden　(K.W.)

hirakareshi / bara no uchi naru / hajimete no /kotoba to ayumi / tsuki mitsuru niwa

silence like falling down
into the galaxy
shooting star
is watching
the bloom　(M.K.)

seiun ni / toaoreyuku got /shizuka nari /ryuusei wa sono / kaika wo mamoru

a mother
in more than name
her reflrection scatters
sizzles in the sea
a meteor shower　(K.W.)

sono na yori / haha wa kirameki / chiribametsu /hoshiboshi wa atsuki / mi wo umi ni nagu

the swell
of summertide
the ancient movement
of a fetus
is repeated　(M.K.)

natsu no ushio / uneri te itari / inishie no /taidou wa imamo / kurikaesaruru

2.Approach to the Island

I also floated
in the starry sky,
The Queen Mary -
murmur of the sea
brings my twin for me　（Mariko Kitakubo）

hoshizora ni / ware mo ukaberi / shiosaiga / waga kataware wo / tsurete kitarinu

in blues and greens
a starfish finds its way
five jeweled crown
her songfulness wears
a matching dress　（Kath Abela Wilson）

hisui iro ni / hitode mabayushi / oukan to / niaino doresu / matou utagokoro

flares of our skirts
are flitting...
pale rainbow
splash
fragrant island's breeze　(M.K.)

sukaato no / fureaa yuretsu / shibuku nizi /shimano / soyokaze kanbashiki kana

lure us to an island
oh swish of waves
enchant the animals
let's become two deer
beneath a cherry tree　(K.W.)

nami no koe / shima e no izanai / sakuragi no / moto ni nikki no / shika to naramu ya

shall we stary
into the deep sigh
of redwoods -
we met 1000 years ago
calm is falling endlessly　(M.K.)

sen nen no / mukashi deaiki / akasugi no / toiki ni mayowamu / nagi furi yamazu

waiting
on a distant shore
an urge to speak
a crash the break
that makes an island whole　(K.W.)

kishi haruka / hita ni katari tashi / shimahitotsu / tsukuri agetaru shio no todoroki

3.The Island

two minds
one island
wet from shimmering bay
driftwood and stone
scattered relics　（Kath Abela Wilson）

ryuuboku to / ishi no nagori wo chiribame tsu / shima no hi ni teru / futari no kokoro

awakening
at emerald green beach
after
my long long drift
about in a shell　（Mariko Kitakubo）

emerarudo no / hama ni sametari / kai nouchi / waga nagaki nagaki / hyouryuu nonochi

some hold
a shell to their ear
to hear ocean
the sehll held you
and I listened　(K.W.)

umi wo kikan to / kai mimi ni atsu / kai wamata / kimi wo idaku wo / ware wa kiki wori

a distant voice
who? my favorite tone...
you are waving on the gentle slope
beside a fawn　(M.K.)

itooshiki / taga koe nariya / yuruki saka / kojika no yoko ni / te wo furishi kimi

discovered
this island of fawn
he hears voices
from each hill
the same and different　(K.W.)

kojika sumu / shima mitsuke tari / oka yori ka / warera no kore wo / kare wa kiki itsu

dew
on a body cactus
thorns break through
my fragile cosoms
sounds of a woodpecker　(M.K.)

saboten no / osanaki toge ni / kowasare shi / suiteki no sora / kitsutsuki no ne yo

cactus,
take the shape of a bird
thorns to feathers
dream of flying
inside out　(K.W.)

tori no gotoki / katachi no saboten / sono togewa / umou to narite / yume ni tobi tatsu

flight
from my old shadow
where am I?
sky blue, marine blue
I climb the mosaic tower　(M.K.)

furuki kage yori / hanatare shi ware wa /izuko nari / ao no mozaiku no / tou wo kanoboru

overlook the island
are we back in time
or is this future
what we do set in stone
also becomes a song　(K.W.)

toki wo koe / miwatasseru shima / warera hi nikizamishi no mata / uta ni nari yuku

does a fawn sniff
at my watch
did time stop
where I left it
on Catalina Island　(M.K.)

wasurare shi / tokei kojika ga / kagitaruya / Catalina tou ni / toki no tomaru ya

Kath Abela Wilson is the creator and leader of Poets on Site in Pasadena, California.Closely related to poetry of place, this group performs on the sites of their common inspiration.She loves the vitality and experimental micropoetic qualities of Twitter (@kathabela) and publishes in many print and online journals, as well as anthologies by Poets on Site.

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