Tag: Japanese Poetry
-
Final Selections from Carter’s Traditional Japanese Poetry
Kyogoku Tamekane. On “Spring Rain,” composed when he held a poem contest at his home On an eveningset aglow with the crimsonof plum blossoms,the willow boughs sway softly;and the spring rain falls. Retired Emperor Fushimi. On “wind in the pines” To avoid getting wetI took cover a momentin the shade of pines–where the rain made…
-
More Selections from Carter’s Traditional Japanese Poetry
Fujiwara no Teika, “Winter Morning” After a full yearof gazing out, one morningI open my door–to at thin snowfall, frozen–the far edge of loneliness. The Go-Kyogoku Regent and Former Chancellor Fujiwara no Yoshitsune A cricket cries outnear my straw mattress, in the coldof a frosty night–as I spread my robeto spend the night alone. Minamoto…
-
Saigyo
In my limited experience of Japanese poetry, Saigyo, a monk writing during the 12th century, is by far my favorite poet. A few selections, again from Carter’s Traditional Japanese Poetry: Spring On a roadsidenext to a clear flowing streamin a willow’s shadeI stopped–for a moment, I thought–but ended up staying on Autumn It creates a hearteven in…
-
More Japanese Poetry
Again, from Carter’s Traditional Japanese Poetry Sugawara no Michizane Idle Thoughts on a Winter Night Beneath eaves of white thatch, before the hearth–the servant boy who was at my side leans against the wall, asleep.My calendar says only a month of winter remains–which means I have been magistrate here now for three years.By nature I…
-
Japanese Poetry
As a change of pace, some selections from Traditional Japanese Poetry trans. Steven D. Carter A poem written by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro when Prince Karu took lodging in the fields of Aki Off to the eastward,the first shimmer of daylightrises on the fields–and when I turn round to see,the moon is sinking away Another by the same…