grandma.

My grandma, who has always been loving me 

ever since I was born in this world, is passing away.

She is an amazing Haiku poet publishing a book several years ago,

and a wonderful wife to support my 94-years-old grandfather, 

a former chief priest of Zunkoji temple in Toyama prefecture, 

who had received a Lifetime Achievement Award of 

Society for the Promotion of Buddhism last year.

as well as being a mother of seven children, eight grandchildren,

and ten great-grandchildren of my family.

She wears Kimono so beautifully with her tall, fit and straight postures,

and even though she was normally very calm and quiet next to her husband, 

we all know her strong spirit and presence between our family.

there are many encounters and partings in one life,

yet facing this biggest apart from someone in my life for my life, 

is making me at lost.

what on earth, can i give her at this last moment?

私がこの世に生を受けて、

ずっと温かく私の成長を見守り、愛し続けてくれていたお婆ちゃんが、

今息をひきとろうとしています。

俳句の本を数年前に出した素晴らしい歌人であり、

昨年に94歳で仏教伝道文化賞の功労賞を受賞した

富山県善興寺前住職のお爺ちゃんをずっと支えてきた妻、

そして７人の子と８人の孫、１０人のひ孫を授かってきた母。

すっと伸びた背筋と凛とした立ち振る舞い、

着物が良く似合って、本当に綺麗なお婆ちゃん。

もの静かで、そっとお爺ちゃんの横に佇む彼女の

芯の強さと存在感を、私たち家族は皆知っています。

出会いがあれば、別れだってある。

けれどこんな大きなお別れを前に、私は途方に暮れている。

私は彼女に、最後に何をあげられるだろう。