The Peas in the Pod
THERE once were five peas in a pod, all of whom got along together famously, and their days were spent in pleasant conversation.
“Soon we’ll be free!”
“The world outside must be very beautiful!”
“I can’t wait to see it!”
“Say, let us make a vow, to stay in touch and never forget that we grew up together inside this pod.”
“But of course!”
Then one day there was a curious noise, and—Riiiiip—the pod split open. The little peas all winced and tumbled out onto the ground.
And they lay there—scattered.
Written by Yamamura Bochō | Translated by Adam Kuplowsky
「莢の中の豆」ちるちる・みちる, 1920
Yamamura Bochō (1884-1924): Writer, poet and songwriter. Professionally he worked as an uncertified teacher, and later as an Christian preacher with unorthodox views. Along with Hagiwara Sakutarō and Murō Saisei, he was one of the first Japanese poets to experiment with modern poetic techniques in the early 20th century.