A new translation of 神田讃歌 Kanda Hymn by Shuntaro Tanikawa

Kanda Hymn

I've bought shoes in that town, and

I went up a hill of San Francisco in those shoes

I've had chestnut confections in that town, and

That fragrance comes back with every autumn

By just seeking one book 

The town walks a long afternoon until dusk

For the lives of countless people coming and going,

The town dreams of giving one line of the truth in exchange

In that town, I met a girl who wanted to become a lawyer, and 

Before I knew it, she had started writing poetry

She talked with a stubble-faced editor, and

The name of the man became a legend

Flow of voice that begins with the first cry of a baby and ends in prayer to Buddha

Columns of composed type that sow the black seeds to the white field

Our rich words of the four seasons 

Create a season of this town

I saw the students crying in that town

To where did those tears vanish?

I heard the song of the times in that town

The melody continues to drift to the alley still

Loudly criticize and mutter looking down

Nonchalantly balance, and while being angry, rhyme line for line

The weight of every possible thought that's hidden in this town

Even if the river is forgotten 

The stream of humanity won't dry up in this town

Even if the festival dies out

People will continue to encounter other people in this town

—Shuntaro Tanikawa

(English translation by Naoko Smith)

神田讃歌

　　　　　　　谷川俊太郎

その街で靴を買ったことがあって

その靴でサン・フランシスコの坂を上った

その街で栗の菓子を食べたことがあって

その香りが秋のくるたびによみがえる

ただ一冊の書物をもとめて

長い午後を夕暮へと歩む街

行き交う無数のひとびとの暮らしを

一行の真理とひきかえにしようと夢見る街

その街で弁護士志望の娘と会って

その娘はいつのまにか詩を書き始めていた

その街で無精ひげをはやした編集者と話して

その男の名は伝説になった

産声に始まって念仏に終る声の流れ

白い畠に黒い種子を播く活字の列

私たちの豊かな言葉の春夏秋冬が

この街の季節をつくっている

その街で学生たちの泣くのを見た

あの涙はどこへ消え失せたのだろう

その街で時代の歌を聞いた

その旋律は今も路地にただよいつづける

声高に批判しうつむいて呟き

無表情に計量し怒りつつ語呂をあわせ

この街にかくされているありとある思いの重さ

たとえ川は忘れられても

この街に人間の河は絶えない

たとえ祭はすたれようと

この街で人は人に出会いつづける