dr. hosoya's haiku (i)

Dr. Hosoya, Chief of Pediatrics at the hospital, asked me to translate his haiku used in a new documentary about him, called "Daijoubu (It's Going To Be Okay)". It's heading to a film festival in Europe soon.

Here are some of the results:

がんの子の
　おはなし会に
　　銀やんま
silver dragonfly
 eavesdrops on the conference of
  children with cancer

Backstory: A scene from the camp Dr. Hosoya helps run, for children diagnosed with cancer.

フラッシュで
　星を撮る子もみて
　　キャンプ
starry night at camp
 a child's camera points up
  and clicks, flash goes off

 Backstory: After the evening bonfire, a girl was taking pictures of the night sky using the flash setting.

生キ死ニのはなしを
　子らに　油照
hot day with children
 talking about life and death
  sweltering stillness

みとること
　なりはひとして
　　冬の虹
this is my calling
 keeping watch as children die
  rainbows in winter

颱風の中
　モルヒネの
　　効いてゆく
little one passing
 morphine starts to take effect
  typhoon winds raging

Backstory: Sitting vigil with a dying child, alleviating her suffering.

窓に子の
　息それぞれに
　　夜の冬
frosted window pane
 trace of many little breaths
  a winter's evening

Backstory: Another camp scene

悲しき時のみ
　詩をたまふ神
　　雁渡
only in sorrow
 are poems sent from Heaven
  passing flights of geese