I’ve begun to notice
plum blossoms blooming
here and there.
At tea time,
I ate an umegae-mochi.
I’ve been staying overnight at my parents’ house since yesterday.
Usually I just come for the day, about twice a week,
but this time, since I’m staying over,
I was able to do the kind of things
I don’t often get to—
washing bulky items,
cleaning places that are usually overlooked,
and tidying up.
When I’m doing this and that,
time slips away in no time at all,
and before I knew it, it was already past three o’clock.
Three o’clock tea
is a habit I never miss.
I had noticed yesterday
that there was some umegae-mochi in the freezer,
so I took it out in the morning
and let it thaw.
Speaking of umegae-mochi,
one thinks of Dazaifu Tenmangū.
Speaking of Dazaifu Tenmangū,
one thinks of Sugawara no Michizane, and the Tobiume—
the Flying Plum.
And speaking of Tobiume,
one thinks of Masashi Sada.
Passing through the back garden,
Masashi Sada 'TOBIUME (Flying Plum') 1977(1977)
we stop by Oishi no Chaya.
You take one,
I take half—
we eat umegae-mochi.
My mother is a big fan of Masashi Sada,
The freezer is often stocked with umegae cakes.
Long ago,
Only in places like department stores' Kyushu product fairs.
Also umegae cakes, which could not be bought,
They are now being handled by the Co-op,
They seem to always buy them when they find them.
Warm slightly in the microwave.
The hoan and warm umegae cakes are,
To be served at tea shops in Dazaifu,
It will feel a little more ready-made.
Sada's flying plum is,
It is a sad song, though,
My mother when I get it,
He is decidedly happy to say so.
'Look, it's umegae mochi. Tobiume ❤️"
And the flying plum trees at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
It's about time they bloomed...