巣を奪られ・たる親雀・天翔くる

すをとられ・たるおやすずめ・あまかくる

Robbed of their nestlings, the parent sparrows take wing into the heavens.

山口誓子・１９４９

渦潮を・両国の岬・立ちて見る

うずしおを・ふたぐにのさき・たちてみる

The promontories of two provinces, standing watching the maelstrom.

山口誓子, 1956

–

My thoughts and prayers with Japan on this day of disaster.

海に出て・木枯かえる・ところなし

うみにでて・こがらしかえる・ところなし

Once over the sea, winter winds can no longer return home again.

–

Vocabulary of interest: 木枯らし, winter wind, literally means “tree-witherer”.

In addition to the nature image, this poem also contains a very sad secondary meaning.  Can anyone guess what it is?

舟漕いで・海の寒さの・中を行く

ふねこいで・うみのさむさの・なかをゆく

Pulling at his oars – fisherman making his way through the ocean’s cold.

山口誓子, 1948

差し出でて・崎々迎ふ・初日の出

さしいでて・さきざきむかう・はつひので

The year’s first sunrise – cape after cape standing forth, extending greetings.

山口誓子, 1974

凍る河・見ればいよいよ・しずかなり

こおるかわ・みればいよいよ・しずかなり

The more I look at the river under ice pack, the calmer it grows.

山口誓子、1934