Index

passed guard tower

without glancing up

before summer daybreak


Komuro, Kyotaro

Stoockton Assembly Center 10.1942


Moonlit summer sky

same black houses 

standing in rows


Rhododendren bloooms

about to leave this house

where my child was born


Graves, another, and still another

on the ground

puddles of water


Agari, Yotenchi

Stoockton Assembly Center 10.1942

Hearing sound of train

-AWAKE-

this endless night


Hirai, Tokuji

Rohwer Concentration camp

Distant lightning flash

Iiluminates 

dark forsest


Iguchi, Ryonan

stockton assembly center



After trees are cut down

in the distance

people making bonfires


Close to day of relocation 

breaking branch

of wild persimmon


Okamoto, Hykuissei

Rohwer Concentration camp


Sat alone staring

at a dark and dismal wall

spring night


In the shade of the summer sun

Guard tapping rock

with club


Even if I want to talk

I am alone

closed window, spring evening



Okamoto, Shiho

Arrested by FBI,1942


A parosol goes by 

along the curve of the race track

high noon


Ouchida, Konan

Stockton assembly center

Two men sharing a room

only the doll looks real

it is fall


Nakao, Yajin

Rohwer Concentration camp


Usual train passes

sound of clock resumes

winter night


this evening everything seems shorter

in the  spring moon 

even my shadow


Shintomi, Deisha 

Rohwer Concentration camp

winter night 

sentry whistling

in the darkness


Okamoto Shiho

Arrested by FBI, 1942


in the sage brush

two new earth mounds

torrid wind blows


Okamoto Shiho

Arrested by FBI, 1942

Cutting bare trees 

the only work to be done

in the forest


Agari, Yothenchi

Stockton Assembly Center 10.1942


I live in a country
without love,
where the roses are red.

by Itaru Ina


Under the scorching sun
on and on I curse
the arrogant country.

by Itaru Ina

The guard’s gaze
softens at the
train window—
brisk moon.

by Itaru Ina



I’m leaving—
but the sun-tanned child
doesn’t know.

by Itaru Ina