Coming Together During a Global Pandemic

TUSCALOOSA SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL - NARASHINO, JAPAN

HAIKU PROJECT

OUR SINCERE THANKS TO:

Laura Lineberry Cover and Booklet Design

Yukiko Gilbert Foreword translation, English to Japanese

Dr. Laurie Arizumi and Dr. Koji Arizumi Haiku Translation, Japanese to English

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TUSCALOOSA SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL - NARASHINO, JAPAN

HAIKU PROJECT

Coming Together During a Global Pandemic

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Coming Together During a Global Pandemic

2020 has been a year of challenges, great and small, of hardships, frustrations, loss; but it has also been a year of hope. As news and cases Covid-19 spread across the world this year, it was also a time of great courage, life-saving scientific breakthroughs, and countless acts of heroism, impacting communities around the globe.

Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International, and Narashino, Japan joined forces this year to create the haiku project, “Coming Together During a Global Pandemic”, to inspire poets to describe their thoughts, observations, and opinions about this worldwide story, as it continues to unfold.

Traditional haiku are typically 17-syllables; In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English often appear in three lines, formatted in a three line, 5-7-5 syllable structure. This collection appears in the three line format.

We hope you will enjoy these haiku from friends around the world, and be inspired to “Come Together”, after these challenging times end, and brighter days draw near.

Lisa Keyes, Executive DirectorTuscaloosa Sister Cities International

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タスカルーサ市 – 習志野市俳句プロジェクト

「コロナの世界的大流行の真っ只中で一体となろう」

2020年は、大小を問わず、苦難の状況から生まれる挫折感、喪失感により、辛く苦しい年となりました。しかし、それはまた希望という未来を見出していく年でもありました。世界中に拡大するコロナウイルスの感染、そのニュースが飛び交う中、人々の前向きな勇気ある行動、そして生命を救うための科学的新発見など多くの出来事が世界中のコミュニティーにインパクトを与えてきました。

そのような中、タスカルーサ姉妹都市協会と習志野市は交流事業の一環として、「コロナウイルスが大流行する中、皆が一体となろう」をテーマに昨今の新型コロナウイルスの状況に対する各自の思いを詠んだ俳句を募集する「俳句プロジェクト」を立ち上げました。

辛い時期が終わった後も一体となり、より明るい日々が来ることを願いつつ、世界の友からの俳句を楽しんでいただければ幸いです。

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We will meet on ZoomWe do work in pajamasI miss human touchAndy Paxton, Tuscaloosa

In March, the world changedCan’t see my friends, all alone,Need to drink a beer. Greg Madrid, Tuscaloosa

dawn whispers hello I linger with my coffeefear is still sleeping Sandie Vaisnoras, Burr Ridge, Illinois

Although we are farOur time together treasuredBonds our hearts foreverKelley Green, Tuscaloosa

At the zoo Laughing through masks As we feed the giraffesRose Marie Stutts, Tuscaloosa

Cicadas Passing songs from tree to tree A twilight choirRose Marie Stutts, Tuscaloosa

masked strangers glide bysuperheroes who keep us safe from CoronaBridget Magee, Hünenberg See, Switzerland

following guidelinesno human embrace since Marchalone togetherBridget Magee, Hünenberg See, Switzerland

home-officing witha five-year-old and the fridgethe struggle is realBridget Magee, Hünenberg See, Switzerland

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Smiles behind clothsCaring for communityVoting to save livesSarah Baratta, University of Alabama

Struggling to surviveDo your lives have more value?Please social distance Sarah Baratta, University of Alabama

Foggy mind, hazed gazeMy body aches with covidI shall stay in bedKatherine Cheng, University of Alabama

It’s weird, to not tasteAll that’s left is sensationBecause of covidKatherine Cheng, University of Alabama

The walls of my roomConfine me for all these monthsFeels like a prisonKatherine Cheng, University of Alabama

Only our eyes speak.Words tangle behind our masks.But still our hearts sing.Teresa Owens Smith, Chicago, Illinois

masks onit’s hard to hear you withoutseeing your lipsMary Sella, Tuscaloosa

the checkout linea little boy smiles at mewith his eyesMary Sella, Tuscaloosa

outdoor worshipmasks on, keeping our distancea chorus of birdsMary Sella, Tuscaloosa

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COVID-19 floorthe nurses celebrate herninety-third birthdayMary Sella, Tuscaloosa

pandemicstatistics show a spikein online datingMary Sella, Tuscaloosa

I’m cleaning the houseTo make sure there are no germsThe house is clean againAakilyah Black, Tuscaloosa

I miss seeing DadI can’t see him becauseCoronavirusJa’Kiyah Cobbs, Tuscaloosa

Can’t go anywhereI miss my friends very muchI wish this was goneKinley Presley, Tuscaloosa

I don’t see my friendI miss seeing all my friendsI miss my best friendTaliah Wilder, Tuscaloosa

Masks covering smilesHow do we see happiness?Look for crinkly eyesHelen Kampion, Wayland, Massachusetts

Our selfish world changedNeighbors now helping neighborsSome good comes from bad?Helen Kampion, Wayland, Massachusetts

Dressing to go outMake-up, hair, outfit, jewelryOne last thing...a mask!Helen Kampion, Wayland, Massachusetts

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Masks in rainbow huesShow individual style:Fashion on facesJoannie Duris, Hubbardston, Massachusetts

Social distance? Nope.Seeking comfort, snuggled closeCats purring on lapsJoannie Duris, Hubbardston, Massachusetts

Pandemic wildlifeStrut fur and feathers down streetsLive entertainmentJoannie Duris, Hubbardston, Massachusetts

black crow on white snowa turning in November –nature’s negativeLinda Baie, Denver, Colorado

They sacrificed all,Building a more just country,Passing the baton.Dr. Pam Foster, Tuscaloosa

Note: A haiku in memory of Congressman John Lewis and Reverend CT Vivian

Separated NowPandemic summer of woeFriends offer solaceScotty Colson, Birmingham, Alabama

death stares out at usfrom our television news—yet spring still blossomsLamon Brown, Birmingham, Alabama

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My gym is shut down.For exercise I’m walkingfast to Krispy Kreme.Linda T. Roberson, Birmingham, Alabama

Day in and day outSitting at home by myselfKeeping the world safeMichael Perry, Birmingham, Alabama

The virus destroysBut we will overcome allOnly togetherSpike Burt, Birmingham, Alabama

Covid pandemic A lot of time to crochetFive finished blanketsJoan Kammer, Birmingham, Alabama

Friendship means the worldIn good times and in bad timesWe lift each other upBlake Pritchet, Birmingham, Alabama

Haikus are easyBut sometimes they don’t make senseRefrigeratorShannon Henderson, Birmingham, Alabama

Apart together We chart an uncertain course The map is withinHunter C. Hughes, Birmingham, Alabama

Masks are the new normalMaybe even after virusI’m ok with thatWendy Steele, Birmingham, Alabama

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渡部　一之Kazuyuki Watanabe

花柄のマスクを供にコンサート

Together with my Flower-patterned maskConcert

罪多きコロナも生き物天高し

It’s such a sinCorona is also a living thingThe sky reaches heavenward

コロナ禍も猛暑もそうは続くまい

Neither Corona virus Nor scorching hot daysWill continue long

三代川　玲子Reiko Miyokawa

アラバマに 続く秋晴れコロナ去れ

In AlabamaFine autumn weather continuesCorona go away

友好の絆は消えず秋の虹

Our friendshipWill never ceaseFall rainbow

手をとりて笑む日を願う天の川

Hand in handWishing for the day to smile againMilky Way

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秋山　勝Masaru Akiyama

周り見てグッと抑える咳クシャミ

Looking all aroundTrying hard to suppressCoughing and sneezing

羽ばたきも忘れて久しカゴの鳥

Spread your wings a bitForget for awhile that you’re A bird in a cage

なかよしの笑顔がみえぬ立ち話

Even among friendsNone sees a smile, as they areStanding and chatting

宮下　晴男Haruo Miyashita

コロナ禍にマスク分け合ふ世界かな

Corona virusMeting out and sharing masks - This is our world now

人混みをさけて散策夕桜

Avoiding the crowdsWhile strolling round and aboutCherry blossom eve

血の型は人類共通今日の月

Blood typeCommon to all human kindToday’s moon

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白雪姫Shirayukihime

コロナ禍に負けるな勝てと虫の声

Corona virus!We will not lose, we will win!The sound of [autumn] insects

コロナ禍の終息願う望月夜

Corona virusWishing it to end on aHarvest Moon night

絵留Eru

コロナ禍を祓う微笑み若棋聖

Corona disasterPurify it with a smileYoung shogi Kisei Champion Note: In July 2020, 17-year-old Sota Fujii became the youngest shogi (Japanese chess) player ever to win the Kisei champion title in Japan

「友は無事」ささやくように虹かかる

“Your friend is OK”It’s like a whispered arrivalWhen a rainbow appears

それぞれの生き方ありて月見かな

Each one of usHas their own way of livingMoon viewing time

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小林　清華Seika Kobayashi

オンライン診療頼る流行（はやり）風邪

Relying on an onlineMedical diagnosisFlu is all the rage

コロナ禍の永き家居や小鳥来る

Corona disasterA lengthy stay at homeSongbirds come to visit

コロナ禍に中止となりぬ秋祭

Corona disasterBrings to a haltFall festivals

小林　良枝Yoshie Kobayashi

制服とマスクで我が子見つからず

Student uniformsAnd all in masks, I can’t seeWhich child is mine

リモートで世界の友と温め酒

Remotely,With friends all over the worldWarm rice wine

マスクしていても温顔変わりなく

Even wearing a maskYour warm, kind faceNever changes

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風花　紫苑Kazahana Shion

晩秋や感染予防全世界

Late AutumnPreventing infectionAll over the world

コロナ禍や家族団らん秋の宵

The Corona disasterAll the family seated aroundOn a Fall evening

クロたんKurotan

不意の客マスク探して大慌て

Unexpected guestSearching around for a maskMy panic attack

修桜子Syuosi

マスク下げ香り吸い込む金木犀

Pulling down my maskInhaling the aroma Osmanthus flowers

秋の夜手酌で乾杯バーチャル飲み会

Autumn eveningSaying “Cheers” to myselfVirtual drinking party

いつか見ゆマスクの内なる君のほほえみ

Someday I will see What’s inside of your maskYour smile

煎茶Sencha

友との宴延ばし夜通し文かわす

Feasting with friendsContinues the whole nightExchanging texts

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佐藤　ポチSato Pochi

はためくよコロナは知らぬ鯉のぼり

Fluttering in the windCorona does not knowKoi nobori (carp streamers)

祭りなしコロナコロナで夏の果て

Without any festivalsJust Corona and Corona…The end of summer

立葵すくっとのびるよ青空に

HollyhocksSwiftly stretching, reaching outInto the blue sky

沼澤　武志Takeshi Numasawa

マスクして不安が街を歩いてる

Wearing a maskAll around the town, anxietyGoes walking

テレワーク一月振りの顔合わせ

TeleworkFor the first time in a monthFace to face

友達と楽しむ時もウィズコロナ

Friends andFun times tooWith Corona

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小山　由美子Yumiko Koyama

会えないと会いたい気持ち募ってく

When I cannot see youI get the feeling I want to see you more

いつかまた交流夢見て踏んばろう

Someday againYearning to interactLet’s hold out

離れても心はいつもすぐそばに

Even far awayMy heart is alwaysRight next to yours

Naoki Torikai鳥飼　尚輝

コロナ禍に纏う（まとう）マスクと半袖と

In the Corona disasterWearing a mask along withShort sleeves

アマビエの看板駅の人集り（ひとだかり）

An Amabie on theBillboard at the train stationCrowds of people gather

Note: The Amabie is a legendary sea monster from mid-nineteenth century folklore. It looks like a fish with three tailfins, a bird’s beak, and long flowing hair. The Amabie is now very popular in Japan, and drawings of it are used like a good-luck charm to eradicate Corona virus.

外出自粛マスク外してかき氷

Voluntarily not going outTaking off my maskSnow cone

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渡部　優Masaru Watabe

ならしのもはるにはきっとたすかるさ

Narashino city tooMost certainly by SpringWe will survive Note: The Japanese word tasu-karusa “to be helped; save; survive” is a pun for Tuscaloosa

ままならぬ、なすがままのママMamanaranu, nasugamamanomama

あいたいよげんきなかおがみたいんだ

I want to meet up with you!Your cheerful faceI really want to see it

八回転居Hakkaitenkyo

住みやすさ文芸の街コロナ圏

Comfortable living inThe town of literary artistsCorona territory

コロナきたアジサイの街すごもりす

Corona has come toThe avenues of hydrangeaWe stay in our nests

四季めぐるアカシア並木コロナ舞う

Seasons turnRows of acacia treesCorona dances

真鍋　元禄Genroku Manabe

暫くはマスク外して梅の宿

For a momentTaking off my maskUme no Yado (a brand of plum wine or sake)

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好きだから少し離れて聖五月

Because I like youI will stay apart for awhileHoly May

コロナ禍にあの経験が敗戦日

The Corona disaster isThat same experience:The Day of Defeat

伊藤　寛Hiroshi Itou

連日のテレビはコロナ桔梗咲く

Every day’sTelevision is CoronaThe balloon flower blossoms

コロナ禍と台風禍来て楽しまず

Corona disaster has comeTyphoon disaster has comeJoy is gone

ウイルスと戦う術はマスクかな

To fight the virusOur strategyIs the mask

Childrens Category

こやま　とよひと (4歳)Toyohito Koyama (age 4)

じいじばあばおげんきですかまたあそぼうね

Grandpa, grandmaAre you well?Let’s play again, OK?