Christmas Cards

On the road home from kindergarten,
Masa-kun presented Christmas cards,
To his little friends Hikari-chan and Ai-chan,
His mother chuckled quietly.

In the backyard of the elementary school,
Yumi-chan received a Christmas card,
Such a cute card from Takeshi-kun,
Who Yumi-chan helps deliver newspapers,
And is so dear to her.

On the grounds of the middle school,
Ever so shyly,
With a deep feeling of gratitude,
Shizuka presented a Christmas card,
To the principal who has a warm smile.

On this day, when powdery snow falls softly,
The Christmas cards make each person's heart glow.

"Christmas Cards" is a poem I wrote about a Christmas scene involving my little nieces and nephews long ago. The names of the children in the poem are all the names of my nieces and nephews. Back then, Masanori and Yumiko were in nursery school. One day when Christmas was near, their mother prepared some presents, and they gave these presents to their friends on the way home from nursery school. My nieces and nephews are now in college or already working. This year, once again I experience the warm feeling of Christmas approaching, and at the same time keenly have a sense of a new generation coming of age and the great flow of time.