VOICES 7/7

March 11, 2011
(part 7 of 7)

i have survived March 11th
with some members of my hometown
i am eager to rebuild it
my family loved it so much

what can i do for people now
having no special skill
i have fellows sharing thoughts
small efforts in my daily life

i have finished my shelter life
back in my home finally
i want to make new good memories
with my friends and our shiny sea

we can share our experiences
lessons from January 17th, 1995
we could overcome the difficult time
now it’s time to repay their favor

your first cry on the shaking land
the very next day of the calamity
i am feeling the weight of you
praying for your future with love, happiness

we have people thinking of
the long way to go forward
you and i can take each other’s hands
our lives with nature and people

(End)

AFTERWORDS:
Thank you for reading my posts. The voices included in the VOICES series are only a part of the people's thoughts facing the March 11. We still have various difficulties after a month from the disaster and are trying to improve the situation.
Please listen people's voices, get to know the situation, think what we can do, and possibly take actions together for Japan.
Also, I would like to know how you see the situation.

Thanks,
Reina

VOICES 6/7

March 11, 2011
(part 6 of 7)

they have lost their families
uneasiness in small faces
we want to believe their future
want to take back their twinkle

i got medicine finally
just enough for a week
when will be the next chance
worrying about my wife*

my company was washed away
no place to work for
i have family to protect
starting new life

we are sharing our hands to survive
without power, water services
we got through the first month
another month of ordeal

i am getting temporary housing
available for only two years
what can i do after that
all my property is my pension

i had provided safe vegetables
for the children in my city
will there be any chance for my loved land
to make people smile again**

ambulance wails in the dark
another big aftershock
one month with sleepless nights
remembering the nightmarish sight

(*Please note that this part is based on an interview of an old man broadcasted in the third week from the disaster. The situation should be getting better.)
(**Please note that contaminated land with considerable amount of radioactive substances is limited in particular areas. The above is an example of one farmer.)

VOICES 5/7

Small happiness is all over the world in our daily lives.
I have learn a lot from people's voices.

Reina


March 11, 2011
(part 5 of 7)

soft, warm water wraps me up
relaxing and stretching
last shower was three weeks ago
when seawater swept me away

color pencils are dancing on a paper
dancing with my heart
this is my favorite thing
i got back my happy time

mild, hot soup soaks into me
with the smell of fish broth
after 20 days with dry, cold food
i just had a contented sigh

a blooming tree caught my eye
peacefully and majestically
i can feel its positive power
tender pink in a dark ruined field

loud, familiar bells welcome me
surrounded by new faces
although i loved my last school
i am happy to be here

post officer brought me letters
with his smile, gentle greetings
no electricity to make a call
i can communicate with my friends

VOICES 4/7

We get some progress on our recovery efforts.
At the same time, we have to face new problems that come up in the process.
I appreciate all people contributing to the recovery process.

Reina


March 11, 2011
(part 4 of 7)

it was you who rescued me
with strong, warm arms
i am out of fear of death
a million thank you’s is not enough

it is you who encourage me
acquainted neighbors
now i have a new family
holding hands to survive

it was you who built our lifeline
in between the heaps of rubble
it is the only road we have
connecting us to society

it is you who saved our lives
bringing us supplies
we don’t know you in person
we know how thoughtful you are

it is you who support us
praying from over the seas
how lucky to have you
we can feel the warmth of the world

Unknown heroes

TV news and newspapers report tragedic stories around tsunami and earthquakes...

But behind those stories, there are heroes.
Those heroes may not be "the big hero" such as firefighters or professional rescue team, but they definitely are for their family and friends.

LA Times:“For one quake survivor, self-help in the face of seeming helpless”

VOICES 3/7

We had another massive aftershock today.
People are trying to hold their heads up, but continuous aftershocks suffer us- mentally and phisically.

Reina


March 11, 2011
( part 3 of 7)

we were confident with the bank
best embankment, we thought
some of us lost our lives
we believed it too much

i was proud of the bank
protecting our people
i wanted to save them
power of nature was too strong

our town survived the disaster
now it is empty
we could rescue our family
if the evacuation didn’t happen

i am sorry what’s happening
your town, our industry
i am fighting with radiation
telling my family i should be fine

we are lacking supplies
need them to survive
why you are buying up
your city is undestroyed

i could be more considerate
deep fear at the same time
next shock might hit my place
sheltering sounds hard

VOICES 2/7

Hope this helps you to feel and think the Mar 11.
Please read this together with the first part "VOICES 1/7."

March 11, 2011
(part 2 of 7)

you are standing in front of me
thank you for surviving
i am standing in front of you
shaking with great pleasure

you are sleeping in my arms
with calm, soft, warm face
it took three days
until i found your miracle life

you are talking over the phone
in your way of talking
i am relieved with your voice
now i can feel i’m alive

you have a smile on your face
first time since the day
i can be beside you
sharing our feelings

i lost everything on the day
fruits of efforts for 70 years
i have my heart beating
how fortunate to have this