At The Time (for Kimiko Nezu)
A Poem by Munehiko Ichino©Munehiko Ichino 2007
Translated by Tetsuro Tanaka
そのとき
君は思い起こすだろう
At that time, you will remember her.
力あるもののあまりの理不尽に
怒りがおさえきれなくなったとき
When you can't restrain your anger in the face of so much injustice by a power.
自分の心の奥底を
素手でわしづかみにされ
屈辱に身をこがすような思いをしたとき
When you feel burnt by humiliation, from a power that grabs the bottom of your
heart with it's bare hands,
周囲の冷たい目に脅え
絶望の縁に立たされた朝
On a morning when you were forced to stand on the edge of despair,
and were scared by the surrounding cold eyes.
強いものにすりより
不正義を見過ごすことが
どれほど自分をおとしめるか
ゆっくりと気づき始めた夜
On a night you gradually realize that ignoring an injustice to curry favor is insulting to you.
五年後か
一〇年後か
あるいは二〇年後か
5 years later.
10 years later.
Or 20 years after.
そのとき
君は思い起こすだろう
遠い日に出会った一人の人を
At that time, you will remember a person you met long long ago.
命令、処分
脅し、冷笑
非難、無視
Order. Admonishment.
Threat. Sneer.
Blame. Ignored.
山のように降ってくる
それらのものに
めげず、脅えず
「教員である私は
どんなに処分をされようと
教育を否定し破壊するには加担しない」
と言い続け、
門の外に立ち続けた人を
この世の最も強い力と
穏やかにほほえみながら
向き合い続けた人のことを
They fall in like mountains on her.
But she's never frightened.
And she says "I'm a teacher.
I will never help destroy education even if they admonish me all they can"
You will remember a person standing in front of the gate
Facing the strongest power with a tender smile.
遠い海で生まれた小さな波のうねりが
やがて岸辺に打ち寄せる波となるように
Like a small swell of wave born in a far off sea.
It gradually becomes a wave that beats against the shore
はるか山の空で生まれた風が
谷を越え
いつか人の髪をなびかせるように
Like a wind born high above a far off mountain.
It blows across valleys and moves your hair some day.
名もないただひとつの波のように
名もないただひとつの風のように
Just like one small nameless wave .
Just like one small nameless wind .
その人の願いが
いつか君の胸に届くだろう
Her wish may reach your heart some day.
根津公子先生
Teacher, Kimiko Nedu
その人の名が君の胸によみがえるだろう
Her name will live again in your heart.
三〇年後か
四〇年後か
でも、きっとその時が来る
30 years later.
Or 40 years later.
That time will surely come.