« Thanks to my son by Fujiko Kosai | Home | »
April 17, 2007
Happy little things I whisper in the ear of my sleepy headed child while he hides in his blankets in the morning by Mari Yamada
To the one who chose my belly over all the other bellies (So, is that why you were so late?)
my piddelybrightestnosiest, whizyfluffysoftyest, bellyburstingbuttonest, velvetslickedybuttuckscheeked
one and only child
my perfect tailored toenailed one
my feather downy bearded one
my dirt plugged toenail boyish one
my slender nape necked thrilling one
my gulp it down to filling one
my desperate serious swimming one
my doesnft get a cold not one
my gets better and is no bother one
my listens to his mother one (look both ways before you cross!)
my look out for all the younger ones
You! You got five valentine chocolates this year!
and then you gravely gave me one.
When motherfs friends come by dressed to the teeth, you always compliment them (lotfs of points here).
When you ride piggyback, youfre just the right size to massage my shoulders.
When wefre on our way home, you always say, ghome at lasth at the one-kilometer mark.
When you dress up Japanese, you look like gJapan number oneh and get spotted in the street by Noh and storyteller scouts who invite you to join their group.
You always love to draw and are very good at cats.
You always have an earnest expression, as if you were absorbed in some great creative effort
Especially when youfre folding origami corners, your forehead gets very intense.
Youfre best buddies with Pé the cat, and copy him when you come purr in my lap.
You wish Papa off to work and get out the beer for him when he comes home.
Youfre the gbrightest little kid in the worldh who gives Mama a kiss every day.
And enough! But who would have thought itfd be so much fun to be dumb and dote.
And that too is all thanks to you.
My very best and favorite one!
(translation © victor woronov 2007)
Koichi Yamazaki, husband (left) / Akira, son (center) / Mari Yamada, mother (right)
Posted by oyako-staff : April 17, 2007 10:28 PM