Collaborative Haiku Poem – 初雪と大停電

the first snowfall
power outage everywhere
short-lived joy

(Yoko version)
初雪を喜ぶ間もなし大停電
はつゆき を　よろこぶ まもなし　だいていでん

Autumn snow
gathers weight on trees
power blackout

(Michiko version)
大停電木の葉に積もる秋の雪
だいていでん　このは に つもる　あきのゆき

On October 14, we had the first snow of the season. It is exciting to see white snow no matter how old you are. But, alas, the joy was short lived. There was power outage. Although, gas and water were available for a while, their supplies might not last long. The most worrisome thing was a stoppage of the heating system. Three hours later, the electricity was returned. According to TV news, the power outage was caused by fallen tree limb on electric wires, as snow piled heavily on trees that had not yet shed their leaves.
Well, it seems not easy to enjoy fall weather leisurely.

　10月14日、ネブラスカでは初雪が降りました。何歳になっても白い雪を見るのは楽しいことです。ところがゆっくり初雪を愛でる気分に浸る間も無く停電！幸い都市ガスと水道水の供給は続いていましたが、これらも停電が長引くと途切れがちになります。何よりも心配なのは暖房装置が働かないことです。３時間後無事電気が戻りました。テレビのニュースによると、葉がまだ沢山の木々の上に雪が積もった結果、枝が折れ電線の上に落ちて停電となった由。ゆっくり秋の風情を楽しもうとは期待しすぎのようです。

Collaborative Haiku Poem
– Yoko Kelley and Nakamura Michiko
– Illustration by Norman Kelley
Omaha, Nebraska