海外に住んでいると、妙に郷愁にかられる瞬間があって・・・

木々の葉が色づく今頃の季節、ペンシルバニアの空の下で私は俳句を詠みたい気分になった。日本にいるとそんなことはないのに・・・。このエッセイは、ライティングのクラスで一番最初に書いたもの。メアリーウッド大学のキャンパスで、紅葉する葉がはらりはらり舞ってくる木の下に座っていた。りすが木の実をついばんでいたなぁ。あれから何度目の秋だろう・・・

            Feeling Fall
Nothing is as good as sitting under an oak tree on the Marywood Campus, gazing at the leaves falling, feeling the crisp air of the gentle wind, staring at the fluffy white clouds in the clear bule sky, smelling the fraｇrance of the tree, and hearing the pleasant songs of birds. The trees are swaying as if they are dancing. Squirrels are gathering nuts from a branch on a tree. Another squirrel is on the ground eating them. They look joyful with all their nuts. Students wearing sweaters are hurring to classes. Something catches my eyes. A leaf is falling. I jump up and catch the leaf before it hits the ground. I study it, smell it and touch it. The leaf makes me smile and I begin to think about Haiku. 

One of the most well-known Japanese Haiku poets in the sixteen century was Basho Matso. This is his Haiku about fall. “Aki kaze no / fuku domo aoshi / kuri no iga.（秋風の　吹くども青し　栗のいが）” It is translated,”The winds of fall are blowing, yet how green the chestnut burr.”  I imagine he was sitting under a tree, gazing at the chestnut tree, and feeling the gentle but crisp air. He must have touched by the beauty of fall. If he was at Marywood campus, what Haiku would he write, I wonder. I believe that writing and reading Haiku makes you observe nature and appreciate the beauty of the four seasons. 

I again am gazing at leaves falling down and feeling the fall. I am now thinking about writing Haiku. “Konoha chiru / kashinoki nagame / tomo omou.(木の葉散る　樫の木ながめ　友思う。）” It is translated, “The leaves are falling, I am gazing at an Oak tree and concerning of my dear friends.


秋、深まりゆく。