Haiku for 2025 Calendar by Yoshiko Yamamoto

1月　五十雀　林檎かわいや　青い空

　Little Nuthatches/ adorable red apples / in the deep blue sky

2月　ヤマガラさん　うまいぞ蜜柑　からっかぜ

　Mister Varied Tit/ Savoring sweet tangerines / as the cold wind blows

3月　ツグミの子　甘いイチゴに　舌鼓

　A Thrush Hatchling/ tasting, savoring, feasting / sweet red strawberries

4月　一目惚れ　メジロの歌は　桜色

　Lovers at first sight / warbling White-Eyes are singing / cherry-colored song

5月　枇杷たわわ　興ずるキビタキ　夏を告げ

　Bright bursts of loquats / Flycatchers in merriment /announcing summer 

6月　四十雀　桑を喰らえて　片思い

　A small Chickadee / tasting sour mulberries / unrequited love

7月　青い鳥　夢と希望を　羽根に乗せ

　Bluebirds on a branch / carrying dreams and promises / on their wings in flight

8月　夏文鳥　スイカの汁に　酔いしれて

　Rice Finch in summer / drinking watermelon juice / merrily, tipsily 

9月　もういいかい　雀と葡萄の　かくれんぼ

　Let’s hide and go seek / small Sparrows in the grapevine / find me if you can

10月　熟れ柘榴　オナガ長々　秋の声

　Pomegranates ripening / how long the Magpie tail is / long autumn echos

11月　柿食えば　秋空に舞う　ジョービタキ

　Eating persimmons / dancing in the autumn sky/ Drurian Redstart

12月　クランベリー　エナガの家族が　ピイチクパア

　Bright red cranberries / Long-Tailed Titmouse family / chattering away

Translated by Y. Yamamoto & Bruce Smith