Through “A Proclamation for Peace” translation project hosted by the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters (OSTI), I translated the Poetry by the former Oregon Poet laureate Kim Stafford into Japanese, which is one of dozens of languages. The story was featured on the OPB radio program Think Out Loud, September 3, 2024. Listen to the episode here.
A Proclamation for Peace
by Kim Stafford
Whereas the world is a house on fire;
Whereas the nations are filled with shouting;
Whereas hope seems small, sometimes
a single bird on a wire
left by migration behind.
Whereas kindness is seldom in the news
and peace an abstraction
while war is real;
Whereas words are all I have;
Whereas my life is short;
Whereas I am afraid;
Whereas I am free—despite all
fire and anger and fear;
Be it therefore resolved a song
shall be my calling—a song
not yet made shall be vocation
and peaceful words the work
of my remaining days.
(Listen to Kim’s voice in English)
平和のことば
キム・スタッフォード作
めらめらと世の中が燃えている
国々が叫びあっている
明日の夢はぽつねんと
一羽はぐれて電線に
群れははるかに飛び去って。
ニュースも心を見失い
「平和」がわからなくなって
実感するのはいさかいばかり。
それでも宿る、この身の魂。
余命はかれこれ見えてきた
不安だ、
けどまだ自由。
炎の怒りの怖えにふるえる
ぼくの言葉がひさかたの
詩（うた）になるならしてみたい。
まだこれからの、その言葉
和やかなうつせみの世を語る
あしたのうたになればいい。
