Seasons
An EFL Literary Journal

Aichi University
Fall 12020

Seasons
An EFL Literary Journal2© Aichi University 2020
This journal is published by the Institute of Language Education at Aichi
University Toyohashi Campus. All of the literary work in this journal waswritten by students who study English as a foreign language and all work
remains in the author’s ownership. All artwork by Rina Kondo andremains in her ownership. If you have any questions, comments orsubmissions, please feel free to contact us at anytime.
Seasons: An EFL Literary Journal
Aichi University
Toyohashi Campus
811 Kenkyuukan1-1 Machihata
Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8522
kubokawateacher@gmail.com

3For what is a poem but a hazardous attempt at selfunderstanding: the deepest part of an autobiography.
~Robert Penn Warren4

Introduction
Welcome to the second edition of our bi-annual literary
journal written by students studying English at Aichi
University in Japan. There are many shinhaiku, free verse
poems and pieces of art for your perusal. We hope you enjoy
the special moment that each work brings to these difficult
times that we are living in.
The catalyst for these poems was quite simple. Thestudents were asked to think of a memory from their own life
experience and try to recapture it in a poem. There was notheme, the students were only asked to express theiremotions in writing. Nearly all the poems came from a groupof students writing over the course of one semester in myCommunication Skills: Writing as Communication course.
What is truly unique though is that all of the poems arewritten by second language writers. In other words, English
is not the primary language or ‘mother tongue’ of thesewriters, yet they persevered and have written someincredible poems in the English language.
Briefly, about the form of ‘new haiku’ or shinhaiku—
shinhaiku is a short form of Japanese nature poetry
consisting of three main elements: 1) the poem is divided
into three lines which contains 2) a season word (kigo), and3) a ‘cut’ or ‘turn’ (kireji) which provides a juxtaposition ofideas or images often expressed as punctuation. Shinhaiku
follows these three guidelines but omits the 5-7-5 syllable
format of traditional haiku.

5As you read, you will see that the journal is divided into
four main sections of shinhaiku that follow the four naturalseasons. There is also a separate section of free verse poems.
We decided to follow the seasonal form because of thehaiku’s adherence to nature. We also feel the change thatseasons bring to people’s lives is a natural format for a bookof poetry.
Writing creatively in a second language is a great
accomplishment and these students worked very hard
writing, editing and critiquing each other’s work.
Additionally, the entire semester was taught online including
the poetry workshops which was a challenge for theinstructor (myself) as well. Perseverance was the key and I
hope you will enjoy the happy struggle that we have put into
this little collection.
A special thanks to first year student and artist Rina
Kondo for the fantastic oil paintings that are included on the
cover and throughout the book.
Check out the call submissions on the last page for the
next issue and feel free to send an email with your writing,artwork or any questions you might have. Thank you forreading. Be well and write on.

Jared Michael Kubokawa
August 27th, 2020

6SpringSeven year old child...
runs against
the spring wind
~Kenta Imai
Flowers begin to bloom
Call insects
The voice of children...
~Ann Nakata
In the season of cherry blossoms...
I start to walkto a new world~Ryo Ozaki
under lack of moon―
black river
flowing cherry trees~Nairu Inaba
Red, yellow, white…
Careful tulip’s field
Coming warm season~Yuko Wada
gray skygentle rain falls...
smiling only hydrangeas~Nairu Inaba
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Rainy day
I can't get up...
Just like moss
~Yuya Katsuyama
You and I
come across—spring has come
~KoheiTrying to make chocolate
I am going to tell him tomorrow—
Telling I like him~Lin Shihjung
Swallow is flying
It looks like free and easy—
I wish I could fly in the sky~Takuro Tanizawa
A budding of butterbur sprouts―
I hear the first cry of
new lives~Kenta Imai

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Summerbloom
a red carnation—
my mother’s expression~Nairu Inaba
The sun shines
around a sunflower field—
shadows on the road.
~Jo Mizutani
I suddenly close my eyes―
Because I am blind by dazzling sunlightseen from undersea~Kenta Imaidolphin show...
the heat blows awaythe splashes~Nanami Honda
A hot day—Jump into the pool
Very cool~Taisei Yamamoto
Open the window—
In the summer night sky
Big fireworks~Taisei Yamamoto
9Watermelon split
at the beach—the sun is shining~Koukia hot day—I spit watermelon seeds
with friends~Takatomo
The sunshine
I'm sitting under the tree—
Insects are singing~Lin Shihjung
Starting a concert
The songs of insects—
It's getting cool
~Yuko Wada
There is a cicada
Sings beautiful voice—
It is signal that summer is starting~Takuro Tanizawa
End of the summer festival
The sound of fireworks
Go home listening...
~Ann Nakata

10AutumnMilky Way
twinkle in the night sky—light star view
~KoukiEvening
Nostalgic scenery—I remembered my good old days
~Ryo Ozaki
Trick or Treat!――
A procession of little ghosts
Approaching~Kenta Imai
Small monsters
Came to me and said—
Trick or Treat!
~Taisei Yamamoto
In the blue sky-—
Swim side by side
Carp streamers~Taisei Yamamoto
during the party—
pumpkins and ghosts
are dancing~Takatomo
11Maple leaves
Get red―A cool breeze blows~Ann NakataLeaves freeze
Freezing and stepping
Crisp rhythm echoes in the mountains…
~Ann Nakata12

Winterlots of sweaters
my grandmother made...
early winter~KoheiFlu vaccination
Arm became 1.5 times—
Can't pass through sleeve~Honoka Nagakawa
First snow
is pure white—
It's just like my heart~Ryo Ozaki
first snow...
sticks to the windowof the train~Nanami Honda
remember last Christmas Day—
once in a whilememories of my ex-girlfriend~KoheiI can't sleep
Waiting for Santa—
It’s my dad~Lin Shihjung13looking at the sky—the rabbit in the moonpounding mochi~Jo Mizutani
A moon viewing—
We must not forget
The dumplings~Takatomo
Saying goodbye
once and for all—
New Year's Eve night~Kohei

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Freeform
Cycling Season ~Kohei
In March,
the warm wind is blowing.
It already feels like spring
but the town is not suffusedwith a warm pink.
I still wanna feel winter.
In November,the cool wind is blowing.
It already feels like winterbut my feelings arehalloween yet.
I still wanna autumn.
Human beings cry forthe moon.
That means the gods
send nuts to those whohave no teeth.
Fantastic!

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Rain ~Nanami Honda
Today is raining
I can’t play outside, I’m alone
Today is raining
I can hear music from outside
It’s beautiful music#Spring ~Nanami Honda
Say bye to snow
Say hello to horsetail
Say nice to meet you to your friends

16One Day in Summer ~Kouki
Hot sunny day, high temperature
not a cloud, sun shining with glitter—the ice cream is muddy and melting
a long day, the days are long—the sandy beach is due to the sun very hot
a cool breeze is blowing in the shade.

#Memory of Summer ~Kenta Imai
Bang! Suddenly, loud sound like blast dived into our housethrough windows. I and my mother run up to window and we
looked out over outside. And we saw colorful dazzling flowers inthe far sky.
Bang! We heard the sound again.
Then my mother said, “Why don't we go?”Of course I said, “sure!”
We went to our friend's house beside the riverbed. It was alaunch pad. We watched while chatting with friends. I had
watched it far from our balcony. But close were so powerful. Big
sound beat my ears, my stomach.
This is my memory of fireworks; this is my memory of summer.

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Sweet Summer Day ~Ann Nakata
You and me in the moonlight.
Fireworks enliven us.
Make noise in the sea
Riding the windLet’s get into a wave rhythm
You and me in the cool night
I am excited by the rhythm of the waves
Moonlight like stage light
Riding the wind
Let's dance all night…

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Beyond the Photo ~Nairu Inaba
the smell of school meals
the sound of preliminary bell
blackboard and white chalk…
my heart in full#A Sea Day ~Nairu Inaba
many jellyfish
lined up in a square
flowing the shallows...
like a jewel box

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Memory ~Yuko Wada
blue and blueee
like the sea
yellow and yellooow
like a lemon
a lot of sun in the parka boy and a girl are playing
the wind blew
a girl's straw hat
it's like a bird
a lot of suns are smilinga boy go get her hat
girl's cheeks like apples#Zoo ~Taisei Yamamoto
There are many animals"Oink Oink""Moooo""Roar""Baaaa"A chorus of animals

20Childhood Snowy Day ~Jo Mizutani
Open the window,“Wow!”A cold wind is blowing in.
Adults shovel snow.
Open the door.
White world,
walk on a snowy way.
There's footprints left.
“Good day!
Close the school”
We play with snow;
Snowman, snowball fight, Kamakura.
Take a break at home.
We warm up with kotatsu,the sun came out.
It is warm.
We go out again,“What a thing!”
Toro toro...
Everything was gone.
The lifespan of snow is short.
Snow seems like time.
Snow, fall again
We open the window again

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Hungry ~Takatomo
I’m hungry. I like eating.
I want to eat curry rice.
I want to eat curry rice asexuallyfor some reason now.
I’m starving. I want to eat…
What exactly is the appetitethat springs from the bottomof this body?
My stomach is growling
but It's already midnight.
If I eat now, I will be a cow.
I desperately endure eating.
Grrrrrr
Please calm my stomach!

#Shadow ~Lin Shihjung
I am a stalker
Follow you to anywhere.
I am a bystander
Never warn your blunderNo light in here
Don’t fear!
I am here,the dark which you wear.
Even the world is a betrayer.
I am here!
UnderYour tears...
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Dear Night ~Yuya Katsuyama
We enjoy dancing together
I like to spend time with him very much
We play a lot of things.
talking, singing, games, walking etcEspecially, I play pianoMusic in midnight makes me melt
And singing so silence, and so sweeter
It was really relaxing time
But when morning comes, he leaves every time
It is in summer now, I can not meet him long time23

Journey ~Ann Nakata
SpringSweet smell
Dance of cherry blossom petals
Season of encounter...
SummerThe smell of living things
Rain beatFun is waiting...
AutumnClear smell
Chorus of worm
The setting sun is the leading role...
WinterLonely smell
Frost march
Romance begins...

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Seasons: An EFL Literary Journal
Aichi University

Submit your original poems,
stories and artwork to:

Seasons: An EFL
Literary Journal__________________________________________________________________________________

We accept any form of original writing, but if you needinspiration look ​here​. ​ ​→ ​ ​There is no theme, just express
your feelings and thoughts in a 3 line poem. For example:
An old leafy pond

A car door…

A frog jumping in—

The way the dog dances

The sound of water

Tells me it’s you~Matsuo Basho~Timothy Russell__________________________________________________________________________________

Please send your original​ poems, stories ​or​ artwork​ and your ​name​ tokubokawateacher@gmail.com​. Send as many as you want!

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