Desert
      on
      the
      Moon.
      i
      ey
     
    
   
   
    
     
      There
      is
      a
      big
      rabbit
     
     
      who
      is
      pounding
      steamed
      rice
     
     
      into
      cake.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      On
      the
      veranda
     
    

    
     
      I
      see
     
    

    
     
      the
      harvest
      moon.
     
    

    
     
      Few
      stars
     
    

    
     
      defeated
      by
      numerous
      lights
     
     
      but
      the
      moon,
     
    

    
     
      round
      full
      moon,
     
    

    
     
      So
      clear
      —
      gold.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Eating
      a
      rice
      cake
     
    

    
     
      with
      bean
      jam,
     
    

    
     
      I
      ask
      my
      sister,
     
    

    
     
      How
      can
      I
      see
      the
      big
      rabbit?
     
    

    
     
      My
      sister
      says
     
    

    
     
      she
      knows
      the
      secret
      way
      to
      go
      there.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      That
      night,
     
     
      I
      go
      there,
     
     
      Desert
      on
      the
      moon.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Sand-laden
      wind
     
    

    
     
      blows.
      i
     
     
      Countless
      stars
     
    

    
     
      twinkle.
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      I
      walk
      with
      my
      sister
     
     
      searching
      for
      the
      big
      rabbit.
     
     
      Barefooted,
     
    

    
     
      soft
      fine
      gold
      sand
     
    

    
     
      steps
      into
      the
      thin
      spaces
     
     
      between
      my
      toes.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Following
      my
      sister,
     
     
      I
      grasp
      the
      end
      of
      her
      shirt.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      She
      says
     
     
      This
      is
      our
      Great
      Expedition.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      —Chie
      Katsuda
     
    
   
   
    
     
      [10]