鳥居一頼のこころおきなく英語版

  This poem examines the moment when power, violence, deceit, and arrogance reach their extreme limits and confront the boundaries of human conscience. The first section presents a relentless catalogue of moral corruption: greed, lies, oppression, manipulation, cruelty, and the abuse of power. Together, they form a portrait of humanity stripped of ethical restraint. Yet the poem takes a sudden turn in its closing lines. A small child appears, standing before the barrel of a gun. The child represents vulnerability, innocence, and the final test of human morality. The concluding phrase, “And then it was checkmate,” suggests a moment when violence can no longer justify itself, when power encounters a truth it cannot overcome. Though brief, the poem delivers a powerful meditation on the limits of force and the enduring challenge of conscience. Will You Retreat? A loathsome expression. Disordered thoughts. Reckless actions. Mad and unruly emotions. Greed that serves only itsel...

This poem gently portrays the essence of comforting a young child by staying close to their changing emotions. Sadness, anger, frustration, and joy—children express their feelings openly and completely, without concealment. In response, an adult embraces them, speaks softly, and simply remains present. The repeated phrase, “It’s all right,” is not a magical solution to their troubles. Rather, it is an assurance that they are not alone and that their feelings are being held with care. Through these intimate moments, the poem reveals a fundamental truth about human relationships: sometimes comfort comes not from fixing a problem, but from sharing another person's emotional burden with compassion.  Comforting What is making you so sad? You keep crying, your sobs catching in your throat. The little child, eyes full of tears, reaches out for help. A hand rests gently upon trembling shoulders. I hold you close and stroke your back. "It's all right," I whispe...

This poem reflects on the anger, hatred, distrust, and division that seem to permeate contemporary society, while questioning whether any trace of humanity still remains. Reason is overtaken by emotion, disagreement turns into hostility, and power and desire gradually erode human dignity. Confronted with these realities, the speaker struggles to understand the source of deep unease and revulsion. Yet the poem is not merely a lament. The “echo within the heart” that appears in the final lines suggests that reason, compassion, and the possibility of renewal may still survive beneath the noise of hatred and conflict. Even while contemplating an age that feels apocalyptic, the poem leaves room for a fragile but enduring hope in human recovery. Echoes of the Heart Why do we feel irritation? Emotion rises before reason can speak. We tremble before what is grotesque. Shameless self-love inspires only contempt. In corrupted words we witness meanness. Are reckless and self-indulgen...

This poem begins with the reality of Hokkaido’s declining population and expands into a broader reflection on the challenges facing modern society. More than a commentary on demographics, it explores the consequences of population decline: economic stagnation, energy dependence, weakening local governments, labor shortages, political disillusionment, and the erosion of human connections. Rather than lamenting a shrinking society, the poem proposes a new vision: shukujū —a concept of living sustainably within limits while preserving human dignity and mutual support. Ultimately, the poem argues that the future depends not on endless expansion, but on the courage to build a society where people can continue to live together with hope. Hokkaido: 4,985,419 People)  The preliminary results of the 2025 national census. Hokkaido's population has fallen into the four-million range for the first time since 1955. Japan's total population stands at 123.05 million, marking the la...

This poem reflects on what it truly means to “protect” someone, especially a child standing uncertainly in life. It is not only about protecting life itself, but also about safeguarding fragile self-esteem and embracing even the weaknesses that may lead one astray. The poem recognizes that the human heart can harbor hatred, jealousy, shame, and selfishness. Yet rather than rejecting these feelings outright, it suggests that kindness, love, and compassion can guide people back toward trust and connection. At its core, the poem quietly expresses the wish that no one should be left alone, even in their failures. In the end, “protection” becomes the act of preserving one another’s dignity and continuing to live together in mutual care.  What Is It We Protect? I protect the little you. “What is it that I protect?” you ask. Your life. It must never be treated carelessly. Your heart. What is there within it that deserves protection? What about guilt? Would you hesitate?...

This poem reflects on the “shadow” as another self, exploring human existence and the instability of identity. The shadow constantly follows, imitates every movement, and at times seems to reveal a truer self than the speaker’s own conscious identity. As the shadow is described in changing forms—double, incarnation, foolish self, and companion—the poem deepens into a meditation on self-awareness and inner conflict. In the end, the shadow is quietly accepted as a miraculous companion walking alongside one’s life. The poem leaves a lingering question: what does it mean to lose one’s shadow when the light disappears? Shadow Figure It always clings to me, never leaving my side. It mirrors every single movement without fail. As long as light reaches me, it remains beside me. That thing is my shadow figure— my double, proof that I exist. Perhaps that thing is the real me. At times I become a self being manipulated by it. Depending on the light, it sways and distorts m...