Good Luck Charm

桜の影が　頬をなでて

Cherry-blossom shadows brush my cheek,

朱の鳥居を　くぐる朝

a morning passing beneath the vermilion gate.

袖の香りと　指先の冷え

The scent of my sleeve, the chill at my fingertips —

静けさだけが　ほどけてく

only the stillness comes undone.

手水の雫が　光を抱いて

Drops from the purifying basin cradle the light,

紙垂がふわり　風を知らせる

the paper streamers sway, telling of the wind.

鈴の余韻が　胸の奥まで

The bell's lingering ring reaches deep in my chest,

まっすぐ届く

straight and true.

手のひらのお守り

The charm in my palm —

結び目みたいに　心を結ぶ

it ties my heart together like its own knot.

確かな温度が　息を整えて

A certain warmth steadies my breath,

迷いの夜にも　消えない灯り

a light that won't go out even on uncertain nights,

一歩の先へ　背を押す

pushing me on toward the next step.

都会の音に　疲れた帰り

Worn down by the city's noise on the way home,

ポケットの中　そっと触れる

I touch it softly inside my pocket.

ほどけた紐を　結び直せば

When I retie its loosened cord,

呼吸がまた　戻ってくる

my breath comes back to me again.

墨の匂いが　指に残って

The scent of ink lingers on my fingers,

灯のゆらぎが　目を休ませる

the flicker of the flame rests my eyes.

願いは誰かを　縛るためじゃない

A wish is not made to bind anyone,

優しく強く　進むため

but to move on — gentle and strong.

首もとの小さな札

A small charm at my throat;

涙の粒さえ　しまっておこう

let me tuck away even the beads of my tears.

傷ついた分だけ　人に優しく

As kind to others as I was once hurt,

言葉の端を　丸くして

softening the edges of my words,

明日へそっと　渡してく

I pass them gently on to tomorrow.

雨上がりの　石畳に

On the cobblestones after the rain,

空がひとつ　映り込む

a single sky is mirrored.

手渡す温度が　巡ってゆくなら

If the warmth we hand on keeps going around,

護りはきっと　増えていく

then surely what protects us will grow.

胸にしまった　あのしるし

That sign I kept tucked in my chest —

結び直したら　また歩ける

once I tie it again, I can walk on.

桜の道を　今日も進もう

Let me follow the cherry-blossom path again today,

私の灯りで　誰かを照らす

lighting someone's way with my own small glow,

鈴の余韻と　ともに

together with the bell's lingering sound.