Kiyoko Tokutomi

So lightly it goes and so lightly it comes back— the swallowtail
	In summer clothing children have such beautiful arms and legs
Lingering, the scent of perfume afterwards between my fingers
	As if in deep thought it flies away— autumn butterfly
His Memorial Day its approach marked by the sun’s light— flowering iris
	How I love it the sea of my hometown— cherry petal shell
Light snow playing with the wind in the void
	Being afraid of revenge if I do something— April Fool’s Day
A child’s New year’s gift the days when I last received one now far away
	I bask in the winter sunshine of the calligraphy “Returning Home”

All poems copyright by the estate of Kiyokoi Tokutomi. They may not be used for any purpose without explicit permission.

These haiku were translated by Patricia J. Machmiller and Fay Aoyagi; they have been published in Kiyoko’s Sky, Brooks Books, 2002.