Poem for My Wedding

I left the TV on when I was working on the computer last night. The new year's eve program that was on air was so boring that it started to get on my nerves. But it didn't really matter because I wasn't paying attention to it anyway. I just needed the ambient noise to help me focus.

Then, a commercial caught my attention. I can't remember the last time I felt moved watching a commercial. Remember the Petronas commercials they air every year in conjunction of Malaysia's National Day? And how they were lauded as rare, meaningful commercials? This one, however far pales those. It is perhaps due to the simplicity that it succeeds in moving just about anyone.

It was a short commercial from SEIKO, the watch company. But just to be fair, the credits ought to go to Koizumi Yoshihiro (小泉吉宏), the man who wrote the poem in the commercial.

The poem was first written for SEIKO as a radio commercial in 1984. It was broadcast once a week, until 1985, when it was made into a TV commercial and aired on new year's day. That was when it moved so many hearts and became popular. People then started using the poem in wedding speeches.

On 10 June 2008, it was remade again, this time as a high vision TV commercial. Here's the poem, translation follows. But do bear in mind that translating a poem requires a delicate balance between preserving the context and the feel of the poem. Admittedly, I'm not very good at this so priority is given towards the latter should there be a need to compromise.

That being said, a translation can never beat the original. So, you may want to take a look at the commercial first on YouTube. Links open in a new window.

YouTube: 一秒の言葉（1985 version）
YouTube: 一秒の言葉（2008 version）
SEIKO HP: 一秒の言葉（2008 version）

『一秒の言葉』
詩：小泉吉宏

「はじめまして 」
この一秒ほどの短い言葉に，一生のときめきを感じることがある。

「ありがとう 」
この一秒ほどの言葉に，人の優しさを知ることがある。

「がんばって 」
この一秒ほどの言葉で，勇気がよみがえってくることがある。

「おめでとう 」
この一秒ほどの言葉で，幸せに溢れることがある。

「ごめんなさい 」
この一秒ほどの言葉に，人の弱さを見ることがある。

「さようなら 」
この一秒ほどの言葉が，一生の別れになるときがある。

一秒に喜び，一秒に泣く。

一生懸命，一秒。

[English Translation]
One-second Phrases
Poem: Koizumi Yoshihiro

"Nice to meet you"
This one-second phrase may make one's heart flutter for the rest of his life.

"Thank you"
This one-second phrase may show us one's kindness

"Go for it"
This one-second phrase may bring out the courage within one.

"Congratulations"
This one-second phrase may fill one with joy.

"Goodbye"
This one-second phrase may be an eternal farewell.

One second of happiness, one second of sadness.

Striving every second.

Fantastic. Now I've got a poem for my wedding speech.