Tokiko Iwamoto

Sakurai City, Nara, Japan

Born December 25, 1955, in Ando, Nara Prefecture, where there still remains many old Japanese beliefs, rituals as well as social structures, I have no relatives outside of the country. I grew up there and went all through the nation's educational system. I read Japan's thirteen century philosophy and received a teaching license at Tsukuba. I self-taught English and French holding a critical view about our language education; now I teach a few pupils. Friendship with the English ex-POWs under Japanese Imperial Army has been important for me since 1988. "Quarrel with Angels" was published by Minerva Press, London, 1995.

The Thistle

I remember the thistle there,
You pointed on a small path,
Fresh air as if after a bath,
Carried early summer over there.
You showed me the flower,
Telling me the name quietly,
Sweet breeze passed gently by,
We wanted to stay longer,
But spoke fewer still,
Only the thistle swaying,
Swinging in that dreamy morning.

La jeunesse

La jeunesse ressemble au ciel,
Comme le vainqueur d'un duel.
Elle a l' air toujours triomphant,
Et aussi innocente que l'enfant.
Est ce que vous avez ete heureux?
En me montrant le ciel chaleureux?
La lumiere etait pleine,
ne m'indiquant aucune peine.
Pourquoi le temps, doit-il courir,
Du tant que la memoire ne peut pas mourir?
J'ai compris la destinee obeissante.
Ainsi j'ai pleure dans la nuit,
En imposant le sommeil a mes ennuis.