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Translation of a Poem about Maternity

Original Japanese

by Noriko Yoshida


乳飲み足りて手の中より見つ目いる
初めて笑みし幼き吾娘は  典子
( 吉田茂氏の書道です。 )

Some Possible
English Translations

by T Newfields


A direct translation:


drinking enough breastmilk
staring at me from her hands
smiling for the first time,
my little girl


A free-style version:


My little daughter
who has had enough milk
gazes at me
with hands outstretched
smiling freshly.


Another possibility:


after drinking
plenty of milk
from my breasts
and gazing at me
through her hands
my baby daughter
gives me a fresh smile.