ChanomiTalk

storm’s signature
plastic scarring the ocean
turtles be careful!

(Jim version)
ごみ畑嵐の残り亀の毒
ごみ ばたけ　あらし の のこり　かめ の どく

(Michiko version)
嵐去り亀に有害ごみの群れ
あらし さり　かめ に ゆうがい　ごみ の むれ

Hurricane season is now in upon us in Hawaii. There have already been two hurricanes that have gotten very close to Hawaii but fortunately for us they veered away from us and also lost their strength and ended up becoming tropical storms. Hawaii is very lucky in that we have not had a hurricane here since 1992. Even though the hurricanes weaken and miss the islands we still have a lot of rain and rough conditions on the water. One of the bad things about this is that there will be times after the storm where a lot of garbage has collected on the beach in certain areas and even will collect underwater in certain spots. The majority of the garbage is usually plastic bottles and bags whcih can be dangerous to turtles as they will choke on it when trying to eat the plastic because it looks like a jelly fish to them. This usually lasts a few days and then it is carried off into deeper water or far out to sea.

　ハワイに台風の季節がやって来ました。すでに、２つの台風がハワイに接近しました。しかし、幸い、進路を変え、勢力を落とし熱帯低気圧になりました。ハワイは、１９９２年以来、台風が来ていません。これは、大変、幸運なことです。しかし、台風の勢力が弱まったり、台風の進路が変わっても、たくさんの雨が降り、海の状態は悪くなります。嵐の後は、決まった浜辺、また、海底に、大量のゴミがたまります。大部分のゴミは、ペットボトルかレジ袋です。亀にとって、このゴミは凄く危険です。亀にとって、プラスティック・ゴミは、くらげのように見えるからです。もし、亀が食べてしまったら、のどを詰まらせます。ゴミは、二日か三日くらい、その場にとどまり、その後、少しずつ深場に運ばれて行くか、更に、遠くに流されて行きます。

Collaborative Haiku Poem
– Jim Woodhull
– Japanese by Jim Woodhull and Nakamura Michiko
– Photo by Jim

rains vibrant tail
streak across the sky
Hawaiian seal

(Jim version)
雨上がり空もにっこり虹パワー
あめあがり　そら も にっこり　にじ ぱわー

(Michiko version)
雨上がり島を彩る空の橋
あめあがり　しま を いろどる　そら の はし

Although rainbows can be see all year around in Hawaii, I think that rainbows are much more common in the winter because it often rains in the morning and early evening. The clouds come in from the mountains and brief rain showers are often followed by beautiful rainbows. I believe that during the winter season there is often a better chance of seeing double rainbows because of all the moisutre in the air.

　ハワイでは、一年中、虹を見ることができます。しかし、冬は、朝方と夕方に、しょっちゅう雨が降るので、他の季節に比べて、はるかによく虹を見ることができます。山から雲が立ちこめ、しかも、にわか雨が降った後に、よく美しい虹が現れます。また、冬は、大気中の空気が湿気をいっぱい含んでいますから、ダブルレインボーを見る機会が一層増えると思います。

Collaborative Haiku Poem
– Jim Woodhull
– Japanese by Jim Woodhull and Nakamura Michiko
– Photo by Jim

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