Japanese-Americans

Internment Haiku

Internment Haiku from “May Sky : There Is Always Tomorrow : An Anthology of Japanese Aerican Concentration Camp Kaiko Haiku.” Compiled, Translated, and Prefaced by Violet Kazue de Cristoforo.

ZANSHO MICHI SHIROSHI RETSUSHI MAMORARETE YUKU NIPPON JIN

Lingering summer heat
Japanese proceeding under guard
on dusty white road

 

YANEURA ITA TO FUTOI DENSEN TO AKEYASUKI

Between ceiling slats
and thick electric wires
dawn comes through unhindered

 

TEGAMI O KAKU HI GA ARI ATSUKIHI O ERABU COTOKU

Letter writing day
as if hottest day
had been chosen

 

MIHARIDAI AOGU KOTONAKU YUKERI NATSUHI DERUMAE

Passed guard tower
without glancing up
before summer daybreak