12:25
if
16:15
possible
Shadow follows me to the shed to check on the mug
he follows me everywhere
inside and
outside
20 CRANES
DAY 22
I will join Mother
to search for donations for the Northeast
on my first train ride
after March 11
she advises packing my water bottle
my emergency weather cape
in case we have to walk home
and my whistle
in case…
the station is dimly lit
escalators and elevators are halted
sitting on the train
my stomach churns with possibilities
of things that could happen
if “The Big One” happens
caution, not fear
I remember Grandmother saying
we choose not to go too far
from home
we stop along the train line
going to different shops
looking for toilet paper, soap, slippers
and
gathering other things on her list
to drop off to send to evacuation centers
I see
“origami paper” on her list and
remind her to buy kitty litter
on our way into the gate
Mother thanks me for helping
I apologize for not helping sooner
but you have been helping, she says
we stop to watch
our porch swallows
inspect their nesting spot
preparing to return later
for the first clutch of eggs
Shadow must stay in the house
or use the back door
especially when the fledglings are learning to fly
20:57
he watches me
fold
my very last crane
I didn’t shout once
I thank him for cooperating
20 CRANES
DAY 23
from my window I see Yuka
passing under the cherry tree
on her way to my house
she’s holding a plastic bag
lit by the sun
filled with colors of the rainbow
through the house
gate
street
I run
we grab hands
lean in and
smile into each other’s faces
she places a bag
the size of a clenched fist and
the weight of one paper crane
filled with sunflower seeds
into my hand
I tell her I prepared
a corner for sunflowers in Great-grandfather’s fields
we will plant them
after we send the cranes
* * *
Yuka meets Shadow
she understands why I strung the cranes
(her grandmother used to have a cat)
one thousand cranes
require a big box
Mother has two
just right
14:08
the table wobbles
Yuka panics
rushes under it
Shadow and I join her
I get a piece of origami paper and write:
Dear People of the Northeast,
Yuka and I will grow sunflowers in Great-grandfather’s field.
We will gather and send you seeds.
from Maya and Yuka
Yuka signs it
folds
presses
releases
a flying crane
I ask her to add it to her box
Shadow watches
Yuka and I stack
pack and
address two boxes
to post
1,001 cranes
on Monday
the neighborhood chime calls
her home
before she leaves
16:55
she heads under the table
18:05
19:22
after dinner
Mother asks me to take care of dinner dishes
it’s her turn to join the fire group
there is no blackout
no emergency candles in use
but it is a cold night
people may use their heaters
and Earth may move
I ask to go
we leave the dishes
say good-bye and be good to Shadow and
tell Grandmother where we’re going
at the park
we greet neighbors
it feels warm and cozy
to see people out
together
the blocks are handed out
Mother hands me her set
we start out
they clank
I don’t
clank! clank!
watch out for fire!
up close
the hollow clank is startling
we walk along
I am out of step
I try but
I am out of sync
clank! clank! clank! clank!
watch watch out out for for fire! fire!
in a few more steps I am with the group
clank! clank!
watch out for fire!
DAY 24
02:07
Sunday
under sunless skies
out on the edge and
in the corner
where I prepared the soil for sunflowers
I take off my shoes
Yuka giggles
surprised by my earth-stained feet
Great-grandfather is with us
on his day off
if we need him
together
side by side
shoulder to shoulder
seed by seed
Yuka and I poke a hole
cover the seed and
pat the earth
we fill the corner
and a bit beyond
we have seeds left over
11:49
Yuka steadies herself on my arm
she tells me
we may have
to support the seedlings
until they are strong enough
to stand on their own
side by side
we look out where
they will stand
side by side
along a corner
of the field
a future golden summer angle
how many days until sunflower seeds?
Yuka says, who knows?
a new count begins
16:38
21:43
22:18
THIS IS DAY 1 ASP (AFTER SUNFLOWER PLANTING)
DAY 2 ASP
walking
we head into the wind
hugging the boxes tight
any lift and
they will be airborne
stopping
we watch Great-grandfather dig up
his vault of taro tubers
kept underground through winter
he has already softened the soil by hoe
to plant them
we turn a corner
the wind at our backs
pushes us along
the air is clean and clear
neither of us mentions radiation levels
we send the cranes airmail to America and
the extra seeds to the scientist for his experiments
returning
we check the sunflower bed
on a far corner
Great-grandfather tucks baby taro
into a shallow bed
they will raise
a small leaf or two
asking to be moved
to a deeper bed
/> with a heavier blanket of soil
in summer
the leaves will bow and wave
as we pass
to and from school
we check the sakura tree at the park
some buds are opening
we wonder if
our school yard tree will be in bloom
when fifth graders meet to sing to the sixth graders
tomorrow
after they give us rice seeds for next year’s project
20:46
DAY 3 ASP
04:30
05:43
Yuka and I arrive early
we go out and
take our time under the cherry tree
the tree is late
not in full bloom
but
blossoms are opening
parents arriving early
amble around before taking a chair
holding their breath
not mentioning how late
the cherry blossoms are
no student
no mother
no grandparent is wearing spring colors
fathers wear businessman suits
like always
* * *
inside
at our desks
in our last year’s classroom
with last year’s teacher
we sing the song Teacher chose
for the choir concert
life is mysterious…
the thrush
high in mulberry branches
joins us
…love rushes in…
we are out of sync
all over the place
out of tune
but we carry on
life is a glorious thing
it makes my heart ring
at our appointed time
we fifth graders file
onto the playground
class by class
we line up shoulder to shoulder
to stand in front of a sixth-grade class
each student reaches out
to hand each of us
a handmade envelope of rice seeds
I wish we had enough sunflower seeds to give them
under the cherry tree
we gather to sing
Moriyama’s biggest hit
we practiced weeks ago
I’m sure we are waiting…
everyone
students
parents
grandparents know it and
join us in the chorus
softly
gently
sadly
sakura sakura
some choke on,
now in bloom
we finish the song together
tomorrow they will be seventh graders
tomorrow we will be sixth graders
endings and beginnings are tearful
this year especially
13:32
18:08
after dinner
I sing Teacher’s choice to
Grandmother
Great-grandfather
Mother and
Father (he came home early to hear me)
they join in
shed tears and
say they are happy
they didn’t miss it
23:41
DAY 3 ASP
first day of sixth grade for me
a half day
with no lunch service
like always
same teacher
same classmates
new classroom
new textbooks
new notebooks
no one is happy to be back
how sad the first day of school
must be
for the people of the Northeast
we share our stories
our fears
our hopes
we pledge to find ways to help
first step—
we write a postcard to children in the affected area
Dear People of the Northeast,
I hope you have felt the love rushing in from us and people around Japan and the world. My broken heart is filled with hope for you.
from Maya
* * *
I uncover my mug
brush away excess gold
hold it up to show Grandmother
she asks me
if I see
anything
in the repair
my heart healing
at the vegetable stand
customers comment on nuclear energy
some mention
America’s Three Mile Island
the Soviet Union’s Chernobyl
everyone mentions what’s happening here
using the company’s name
not the place
for the disaster
some mention our disaster is not as bad as the others
based on the radiation levels listed
in the media
we get by with fewer lights at home
at school
at shops
at stations
on streets
everywhere
I wonder why
do we need all of them?
19:09
21:56
22:54
DAY 4 ASP
at school in class
11:40
aftershocks
12:16
happen
we follow rules
and carry on
at home in bed
23:32
Earth rocks us
I respond with caution
not (much) fear
and go back to sleep
with Shadow’s purr
DAY 7 ASP
cherry blossoms bloom
there are no parties, no picnics
we view them with quiet appreciation
and watch as
new green follows
sprouts rise from the sunflower bed
we cover them
to keep birds from eating them and
rain from beating them
we look forward
to seeds
DAY 9 ASP
THE ONE-MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF MARCH 11
02:44
06:35
Earth
08:47
13:51
reminds us to follow rules
17:16
and
17:17
keeps
17:19
17:20
17:26
reminding
17:33
17:45
17:58
17:59
18:05
us
18:06
18:12
18:30
18:36
19:00
throughout the evening
20:27
20:42
about what happened a month ago
22:05
we count
22 aftershocks
DAY 10 ASP
00:21
00:57
at breakfast
08:08
one aftershock
then
08:13
another one
much more than a swirl
at school
08:48
we move under our desks
11:23
with our emergency hoods on
14:07
again we’re up and under
14:10
back
and
14:26
forth
17:48
I count
10 aftershocks
today
BY DAY 28 ASP
Grandfather’s clock keeps time
we are all back on schedule
the lone pine
the miracle tree
gives hope and inspiration
for the nation
e
ven through the threat of storms
signs everywhere say
Carry On
up north
recovery is slow
people live in temporary housing
radiation levels threaten some areas
the nuclear company struggles to know what to do
Japanese scientists
a Buddhist priest
and groups
each ask the public
for sunflower seeds
to plant in the affected areas of Japan
the news tells us
radiation levels remain low
we do what we can to carry on
we put money in donation boxes at shops
and
take goods to drop-off points
Yuka and I brace our young sunflowers
with a windbreak of poles and old tatami braids
to protect them from
summer rains and typhoon winds
Beyond Me Page 8
