鳥居一頼のこころおきなく英語版

his poem is written for children who carry dreams within them, and for those who wish to stand nearby as those dreams are woven. It does not rush toward outcomes, but lingers in gentleness, trust, and the quiet courage of growing up.   To the Children Who Weave Their Dreams   I want to wander in the dream worlds of children. I want to lose myself in the soft worlds they imagine. I want to be wrapped in worlds of kindness and rest.   Children who pursue unfulfilled dreams overcome fragility, becoming wanderers— travelers on a journey of dreams.   They place a single drop of dream upon the palm of their hand, eyes shining as they gaze toward tomorrow. Without fear, they fix their eyes ahead. Dignified, wholesome, living fully in the present. So that not one child will abandon their dream, I want to protect the precious lives and hearts of children.   The joy of living is but a fragment of a dream. Leaping from a today unlike yesterday toward a tomorrow unlike toda...

This poem portrays the process by which the world becomes captivated and ultimately consumed by a single  “ man, ”  who serves as a symbol of destructive power. Acting as a strong leader, he spreads falsehoods, self-righteousness, discrimination, and hostility. The world follows, fears, and eventually falls silent before him. Democracy itself is undermined, and society descends into confusion and violence. The poem warns of the dangers of blind obedience to power and how indifference and passivity can turn a nightmare into reality.   “ The Nightmare Returns ”   The world was shaken— the rules were the man himself.   The world followed— a man who even used his enemies.   The world approved— a man who played the role of a strong leader.   He permeated the world— it was the man who spread falsehoods.   The world feared him— a man who flaunted his self-righteousness.   The world fell silent— it was the eloquent man who conquered.   The world...

This poem,  “ On Continuing to Learn, ”  reflects on the value of sustaining a learning mindset while wavering between what can and cannot be known. It expresses, in both introspective and powerful language, how learning nurtures the self, connects us with others, and drives personal transformation.     On Continuing to Learn One must not remain ignorant, yet it is impossible to know everything. Still, I want to keep the desire to learn.   No matter how much I struggle, there are things I cannot know. Yet I cannot extinguish the wish to understand. At least, I want to keep the humility to learn.   To continue learning— a learning heart nurtures me, the will to learn strengthens me, what I learn protects me, opportunities to learn cultivate me.   To continue learning together— encounters through learning enrich me, shared knowledge inspires me, companions in learning guide me toward conviction.   To continue learning further— with each lesson, I br...

This poem sharply questions how “ indifference ” and “ apathy ” can erode social order and create fertile ground for the abuse of power. As suggested by the opening quotation, these human tendencies allow evil to take root and grow. The poem urges us not to turn away from reality, but to think critically, make informed judgments, and raise our voices. It is a warning that calls upon each individual to take responsibility as an active guardian of democracy.     “ Questioning Indifference and Apathy ”   “ Indifference is the root of disorder. Human apathy is the fertile soil in which evil takes root and grows. ” —from The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown   If we remain indifferent, we fall into the hands of those in power. We must keep watchful eyes upon them. We must not agree so easily. We must not obey so lightly. We must guard ourselves against subjugation.   If we are apathetic, we play into their designs. We must not turn away from ...

This poem is a powerful call to young people to listen to their inner voice and live with passion as they carve out their own path. It urges them not to be swayed by social pressure or deception, but to confront themselves honestly and transform even their struggles into driving passion. Passion, it suggests, endures only through effort and belief in oneself. To live a life consumed by such burning passion is presented as something deeply meaningful and worthy.   “ Burn Yourself in Boiling Passion ”   Young ones, do not remain silent. Listen to the voice rising from the depths of your heart.   Young ones, do not deceive. Listen to the voice surging from the depths of your soul.   Young ones, seek what must be done. Listen to the voice emerging from the darkness within.   Young ones, do not be swept away by conformity. Stir the passion that resists and fights.   Young ones, seek the self you are meant to be. Embrace ...

This poem is a call to “ awaken, ” born from a deep sense of crisis toward the repetition of war, violence, and the societies that allow them to persist. It sharply questions human tendencies toward indifference, blind obedience, and susceptibility to deception, urging us not to turn away from reality but to raise our voices. Anger and resistance, it suggests, do not fade—they are the very forces that drive us to confront injustice. Rejecting naïve hopes for easy peace, the poem calls for awakening so that the mistakes of history are never repeated.   “ Awaken ”   Awaken. How much suffering must there be before you say no? How many vile acts must you face before you rise against them? How many innocent lives must be offered before you raise your fist and say no?   Awaken. True anger does not cool. True hatred does not vanish. True resistance does not weaken.   Awaken. Do not leave madness unchecked. Do not condone brutality that...

This poem sharply portrays a person who uses cunning cleverness as a tool to manipulate, belittle, and exploit others for personal gain. Though skilled with words, such a person is revealed to be hollow within, relying on authority and status to sustain themselves. By exposing the inferiority and immaturity hidden beneath superficial intelligence and strategy, the poem confronts the very nature of such a way of being.   “ To the Petty-Clever You ”   Where does your petty cleverness come from? With clever words, you ingratiate yourself with others. With clever words, you dig into them. With clever words, you draw them in. Is it simply to follow the powerful? You, ever calculating.   Where does your petty cleverness reside? You use words as weapons to bring others down. You use words as weapons to scorn others. You use words as weapons to slander others. Is it to crush your enemies completely? You, driven by gain.   What kind of thin...

This poem reflects on the “ thorns in the heart ” that no one can escape in the course of life. Regret, failure, betrayal, envy, and hatred—these remain embedded as enduring pain within us. Yet these “ thorns ” are not merely sources of suffering; they also serve as inner measures that continually question how we live and what we believe to be right or wrong. Carrying a pain that cannot be removed, the poem quietly asks whether living with as little regret as possible might itself become a form of atonement.   “ Thorns in the Heart ”   Everyone carries thorns in the heart. Unspoken regret becomes a thorn. Unforgettable failures become thorns. Betrayal of oneself becomes a thorn.   Everyone suffers from the thorns in the heart. Envy toward others becomes a thorn. Hatred toward others becomes a thorn. What we have done to others becomes a thorn.   No one can pull out the thorns in the heart. The embedded thorn is regret that cannot be fo...

As the third poem in this sequence, this work portrays the grief of a mother who has lost her child to suicide through the powerful image of a “ scab. ” The wound of the heart, repeatedly torn open just as it begins to heal, reflects an ongoing cycle of anguish and lamentation. Grief does not simply fade—it deepens through repeated pain. Yet, over time, the “ scab ” becomes not only a mark of suffering, but also a sign of healing in progress. A heart that once resisted mourning is gradually led toward it, and ultimately toward prayer. This poem quietly reveals the first signs of healing within profound loss.     “ Scab ”   My heart bled. Wounded, wounding, I clawed at it. A cry of anguish— a hellish wail that refuses to mourn.   I peel away the fragile scab. It forms, and I tear it off again. Again and again it is stripped away. A fierce struggle— each act of mourning dries the heart, a hellish wail.   I cry out against mercil...

This poem portrays the inner struggle and path toward healing of a mother who has lost her child to suicide. As a continuation of (1745) “ A Heart-Torn Grief, ” it traces the journey from overwhelming shock and self-blame to despair, and ultimately toward a prayer for the salvation of the soul. Though crushed by an irreversible reality, the mother continues to seek a place where her child ’ s soul might reside. Even after the physical existence is gone, can the bond between mother and child endure as something spiritual? This poem quietly resonates with that question and longing.   “ To the Place Where the Soul Dwells ”   The shock far exceeded all imagination. All I could do was wail in grief. I could not save the child possessed by a deathly shadow. I struck my bursting chest again and again. Let it be a dream, I sobbed— but cruel reality froze time.   Regret took hold with relentless force. There must have been something I could have done. Wh...

This poem portrays the “ heart-wrenching grief ” of a mother who has lost her child to suicide. Through stark and restrained language, it expresses a depth of sorrow that words can scarcely contain. It raises questions about healing, loss, and the possibility of salvation, while presenting a moment in which time itself seems to have stopped. The mother remains in inescapable grief, while the child ’ s future has been abruptly closed. Confronting a reality that resists expression, the poem quietly asks how deeply human beings can suffer.   “ A Heart-Torn Grief ”   A mother who lost her child to suicide— her suffering writhes in a pain that tears the gut apart.   Will the mother ever be freed from this pain? Will a day come when she can heal from the loss? Will the souls of mother and child find salvation?   In the moment when time stopped, the mother remains in inescapable grief, the child closed off the future.   Written on March...

This poem explores the spontaneous urges that surge from within—those moments when one feels an uncontrollable desire “ to do something. ” Through impulses such as shouting, singing, seeking others, feeling anger, speaking, or falling silent, the poem reveals the vivid sense of being alive. Each of these urges is not merely a passing whim, but is deeply connected to life and death, to relationships with others, and to inner conflicts. By questioning the meaning behind these irresistible impulses, the poem brings into focus the very essence of what it means to live.     “ An Irresistible Urge ”   An urge to shout— is it a fierce resistance to death?   An urge to sing— is it a deep longing for life?   An urge to seek others— is it a desire for coexistence?   An urge to run— is it an impulse toward movement?   An urge to feel anger— is it fury born of failure?   An urge to give up— is it rebellion against frus...

This poem addresses all adults who stand beside children, questioning their attitude and sense of commitment. To be with a child—to guide, to teach, to love, to walk alongside, and to learn together—is not merely a role, but a reflection of one ’ s way of being as a human being. Facing children also means confronting one ’ s own immaturity and mistakes, while embracing unconditional love and responsibility. The poem quietly speaks of both the difficulty and the joy of living alongside children, and the profound dignity found in that relationship.     “ To Those Who Stand Beside Children ”   To those who stand beside children— do you have the resolve for all that you give, seen and unseen?   To those who counsel children— do you know the hardship when your words fail to reach their hearts?   To those who guide children— do you trust yourself in what you speak as truth?   To those turned away by children— do you repent your f...

This poem, “ A Child ’ s Plea, ” sharply portrays the inner struggles of children who cannot raise their voices amid bullying, as well as the failures of adults and educational systems to truly listen. It conveys, with urgency and poignancy, the importance of hearing faint, unspoken cries—and the potential for writing to become a path toward relief and change.     A Child ’ s Plea   Have you ever truly listened to a child ’ s voice? Have you heard a faint voice, almost fading away? Have you noticed the silent cry in their eyes, as if trying to say something? Have you ever asked, only to be told “ it ’ s nothing, ” and let it pass?   Children blame themselves even when they are bullied. They carry their anxiety alone and suffer. They shrink in fear, unable to speak. They remain silent, unable to tell parents or teachers.   They cannot tell teachers for fear of being called a snitch. Even if they speak, they are dismissed as “ not b...

This poem, “ On Continuing to Learn, ” reflects on the value of sustaining a learning mindset while wavering between what can and cannot be known. It expresses, in both introspective and powerful language, how learning nurtures the self, connects us with others, and drives personal transformation.     On Continuing to Learn One must not remain ignorant, yet it is impossible to know everything. Still, I want to keep the desire to learn.   No matter how much I struggle, there are things I cannot know. Yet I cannot extinguish the wish to understand. At least, I want to keep the humility to learn.   To continue learning— a learning heart nurtures me, the will to learn strengthens me, what I learn protects me, opportunities to learn cultivate me.   To continue learning together— encounters through learning enrich me, shared knowledge inspires me, companions in learning guide me toward conviction.   To continue learning fu...

This poem, “ Where I Seek ” , portrays the inner process of confronting hesitation, stagnation, and the fundamental question of “ why we write. ” It quietly yet candidly expresses the emotional fluctuations that emerge precisely within moments of uncertainty and inability to put thoughts into words.     Where I Seek   I wrote the words, “ Where I seek, ” and then five hours passed. Even what I meant to write became vague.   I couldn ’ t write yesterday either. I didn ’ t feel like writing at all. If I forced the words out, they felt like lies.   It wasn ’ t that I kept writing out of obligation. I simply left themes untouched as they came to mind. No one blamed me for it.   I continued writing freely, as I pleased. My heart moved, and words ran forth. Within my thoughts, words played.   Now, I am experiencing a feeling for the first time. I kept asking myself over and over what I should write. And repeatedly...

This poem reflects on one ’ s approach to work and emphasizes the fundamental role of respect. Work is not merely a series of tasks, but a process refined through identifying challenges, forming concepts, preparing, examining, and executing. As the poem carefully traces each step, it ultimately reveals that the core of all preparation lies in respect for others. No matter how thorough the preparation may be, without respect at its center, its essence is lost. The poem quietly reminds us that work is an act of engaging with others, and its true quality is determined by the respect embedded in its preparation.   “ Preparation Is an Expression of Respect ”   Accept the work. What is being asked of you? Clarify the challenge and build a vision.   Recall the work. What does it mean to tell a story? Shape a flow that stands out.   Begin the work. What must not be missed? Start constructing the program.   Refine the work. What is expec...

This poem portrays an inner journey of reflection and transformation that emerges through confronting one ’ s “ challenges. ” It begins with a state of inaction, where excuses prevent movement, but gradually shifts toward self-awareness—the realization that the problem lies within oneself. By taking small steps, connections with others are formed, and change begins to take shape. The poem suggests that challenges are not merely obstacles, but forces that connect people and carry momentum forward. It ultimately conveys hope that personal awakening can grow into collective action and be passed on to the next generation   “ Onward ”   The challenge became visible. I remained still. Nothing would change— that ’ s what I believed.   I left the challenge unattended. Connections grew thin. I wanted to change something— that ’ s what I felt.   The challenge was within myself. I had been avoiding what I should do. I wanted something to change—...

This poem serves as a stark warning about the crisis of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism. It begins with the words of Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War: “ The danger is from within us. ” From this point, the poem explores the fragility of modern democratic systems and how societies collapse from within rather than from external enemies. It questions how indifference and conformity among ordinary people can lead to destruction and war, ultimately culminating in a fundamental moral outcry: “ Do not kill! ”   The Danger Lies Within Us …   During the American Civil War, 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln sounded a warning: “ The danger is from within us. ”   According to a report by the Swedish research institute V-Dem, there were 89 democratic countries in 2021, while authoritarian states such as China and Russia numbered 90, nearly equal. Yet those states account for 70% of the world ’ s population.   Arrogant leaders stru...

This poem portrays the process by which the world becomes captivated and ultimately consumed by a single “ man, ” who serves as a symbol of destructive power. Acting as a strong leader, he spreads falsehoods, self-righteousness, discrimination, and hostility. The world follows, fears, and eventually falls silent before him. Democracy itself is undermined, and society descends into confusion and violence. The poem warns of the dangers of blind obedience to power and how indifference and passivity can turn a nightmare into reality.   “ The Nightmare Returns ”   The world was shaken— the rules were the man himself.   The world followed— a man who even used his enemies.   The world approved— a man who played the role of a strong leader.   He permeated the world— it was the man who spread falsehoods.   The world feared him— a man who flaunted his self-righteousness.   The world fell silent— it was the eloquent man wh...

This poem reflects on the spreading chain of hatred that grows in a world unable to stop brutal wars. Even when the battlefield lies far away, distorted information, irresponsible rhetoric, and the tendency to speak of war as if it were a game intensify anger, disgust, and helplessness within people ’ s hearts. The poem questions not only political leaders but also societies that tolerate such realities or remain indifferent to them. It calls on readers not to turn away from reality, to confront the roots of anger and hatred, and to resist being carried along by manipulated narratives. Ultimately, it stands as a warning against the cowardice of indifference.     “ The Proliferation of Hatred ”   People unable to stop a brutal war— for some reason, we feel anger even greater than toward the leaders who began it.   Resentment rises toward countless strangers we will never meet. For some reason, an unforgivable hatred emerges.   People who s...