This poem is from the anime, “The Garden of Words” by Makoto Shinkai, a beautifully done film with excellent art work.

I love the Tanka poem that was used in it. Below is the English translation of the poem, but, because it was originally in Japanese, the number of syllables in each line is not correct for a Tanka. However, I still believe that it is a lovely poem.

A faint sound of thunder

Cloudy skies

Perhaps it will rain

Will you not stay?

A faint sound of thunder

Even if rain comes not

I will stay here

If you, too, stay.