Ariari to
hana ni hana
tori ni tori
by Koji
This haiku is written on a fine poetry card. There was a message on the back saying "Aya, congratulations on your graduation!"
Okamoto-sensei had written it just for me .. I was so happy. Though he looks a bit scary, he's really a very gentle teacher who likes flower a lot. I sincerely thanked him with a big smile of gratitude. He explained the meaning of the words for me:
"Ariari means 'clear' or 'vivid'. The poem means there are flowers (hana) that people call 'flowers' and give names to and there are birds (tori) that people call 'birds' that fly in the sky."
I suddenly looked up at the blue sky, the roof of the school and the rich green trees. I didn't understand even half of the meaning of the poem, but i felt that Okamoto-sensei was encouraging me by saying "Keep it up!" And that encouraged me to say to myself, "Yes, I will!"
"What do you think I wrote it with?" he asked me.
"Hmm, well, I don't think you did it with a brush.."
Okamoto-sensei grinned and said, "Actually, I chewed some toothpicks to soften them for writing and then I used a first-class inkstone and black ink."
I was impressed by his great idea.
"Did you notice the ribbon on the back for hanging it on the wall?" he asked me.
"Yes, I did!"
He smiled and walked off.
I'll never forget that wonderful moment on the day of my graduation from junior high. Okamoto-sensei, please give me psychological support in the future as well.
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Aya's diary the day before the graduation.
March 14 (Tue) Fine weather
My corn hurts! Everytime I walked, I have constant pain.
The graduation ceremony - I wonder if I'll be able to walk properly?
I hope I don't fall over, I'm worried!