There is a poem I somehow remembered after the passing of my dear Sister-friend.
It was given to me by a friend of mine when I lost my father in 1993.
I Google-searched it as I remembered the title of the poem and found it!!!
The author was unknown to me at the time, but I later found out it is an English theologian, Henry Scott-Holland.
As it is so beautiful, I would like to share it here with the rough translation I made at that time. (Sept. 25, 2020)
Teruko Yamakawa (Translator)
Death is nothing at all
By Henry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all
死はほんの些細なこと
I have only slipped away to the next room.
僕はちょっと隣の部屋に行ってしまっただけ
I am I and you are you.
僕は僕、君は君
Whatever we were to each other,
君と僕との関係は
That, we still are
昔も今も変わらない
Call me by my old familiar name.
いつもの名前で呼んでおくれ
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
いつものように気軽に話しかけておくれ
Put no difference into your tone
いつものようにね
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
悲しい素振りしなくていいよ
Laugh as we always laughed
昔のように笑っておくれ
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together.
よく冗談を言って笑ったね
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
遊んで、微笑んで、思い出しておくれ、僕のために祈っておくれ
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
いつものように、僕の名前を呼んでほしい
Let it be spoken without effect.
さりげなく
Without the trace of a shadow on it
僕の名前を呼んでほしい
Life means all that it ever meant.
人生の意味は変わらないよ
It is the same as it ever was.
人生はこれまでどおりだ
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
永遠の絆があるよ
Why should I be out of mind
見えないからって
Because I am out of sight?
忘れないでおくれ
I am waiting for you for an interval.
僕はしばらくの間、君を待っているよ
Somewhere. Very near.
すぐ近くの
Just around the corner
そこの曲がり角で
All is well.
すべて順調だよ