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First published by Origami Poems Project in August 2026 as a microchapbook titled Tanabata Poems (view or download the free PDF, which is meant to be cut and folded to produce an eight-page book). Originally written in July of 2020, this sequence offers what may be seen as a romantic narrative, in keeping with the Tanabata Festival, held in Japan on 7 July every year. The Japanese versions of each poem, by Emiko Miyashita, are not intended as haiku translations but as summaries of each poem. See also “Star Wheel” and “Year of Rain.”
Tanabata Poems
Tanabata Poems
On the seventh day of the seventh month, the Tanabata festival celebrates the one day of the year when Altair and Vega, the star-crossed lovers, can meet across the Milky Way. In Japan, haiku poets celebrate this festival by tying tanzaku (poems strips) to fresh green bamboo grass for others to enjoy.
a night of stars—
we tell one another
unfulfilled dreams
fireflies dancing
through the bamboo grove . . .
an unopened letter
star-crossed lovers
feeding each other grapes—
passing satellite
our red tent raised
. . . a river of stars
arcs overhead
night sky—
so many stars
in your eyes
backcountry honeymoon—
your gesture gives me
that river of stars
third birthday—
our daughter asks us
for the milky way
七夕の俳句
七夕の俳句
七月七日の「七夕」は、天の川を越えて一年に一度だけ叶う悲恋の恋人たち、彦星と織姫の、逢瀬を祝う祭りです。日本では、俳人たちがこの祭りを祝い、新鮮な緑の笹に短冊を結びつけ、人々がその詩を楽しめるようにしています。
星の夜
互いに語り合う
叶わなかった夢
竹林の中を
舞い踊る蛍
未開封の手紙
悲恋の恋人たち
互いに葡萄を口に運ぶ
通過する人工衛星
赤いテントが立ち上がり
星々の川が
その上に弧を描く
夜空
数多の星が
あなたの目の中に
人里離れた土地への新婚旅行
あなたの気遣いが私に
あの星の川をもたらす
三歳の誕生日
娘が私たちに
天の川をねだる
Japanese translations by Emiko Miyashita
和訳：宮下惠美子
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