Poem of Sougi

suzushisa wa
mizu yori fukashi
aki no sora

Translation of Steven D. Carter:

Ah, for coolness,
it rivals the water's depth -
this autumn sky.

Toshi kurenu
Kasa kite waraji
Hakinagara

Another year is gone;
and I still wear
straw hat and straw sandal.

Matsuo Basho

Though I go to you
ceaselessly along dream paths,
the sum of those trysts
is less than a single glimpse
granted in the waking world.

Ono no Komachi

The poem appeares as No. 658 in the Kokin Wakashu, an old anthology of poems from the 12th century. Komachi was a classic even at that time: she lived in the 9th century.


kayoedomo
utsutsu ni hitome
mishigoto wa arazu

A line-by-line translation:

in [my] dreams / along dream paths
without resting my legs
[I] go often [to you]
in the real world, a single glimpse
is different.

Tang poetry

Before my bed, the moonlight shines,
Could it be the frost, covering the ground?
I raise my head, look at the bright moon,
I set back, and think of my native land.

(Translations are never completely accurate)

A poem from the Kokin Wakashuu

The Kokinshu is a famous anthology of some 1100 poems from the 12th century. The author of this poem is unknown.


tatsutagawa
momiji midarete
nagarumeri
wataraba nishiki
naka ya taenamu



A confused array
of red leaves in the current
of Tatsuta River.
Were I to cross,
I would break the fabric of a rich brocade.

Thank you yoko for contributing to classic prose.
I don't really know anything about Japanese classic prose or poetry. This is a very unique addition to Givnology.

There is only one Japanese poem that I can add:


The Fisherman

Li Po



The earth has drunk the snow,

And now the plum trees are blossoming once more.

The willow leaves are like new gold;

The lake is molten silver.

It is the hour

When sulphur-laden butterflies

Rest their velvet heads upon the flowers.

The fisherman casts forth his nets

From a motionless boat,

And the surface of the lake is broken.

His thoughts are at home with her

To whom he will return with food,

Like a swallow to its mate.

Truly beautiful dear Yoko!

Dear Yoko, thank you so much for sharing some of classical Japanese poetry, which is truly beautiful.

I appreciate haiku/senryu form. But, other than the 5 - 7 - 5 syllable pattern, probably Western attempts of this "condensed" poetry doesn't come close to the traditional Japanese art. But it is a sign of connection in beauty to what the culture of the World has to offer.

The following is a senryu I wrote and posted a while ago in a haiku contest (on www.poetry.com ):


Life flows placidly

we have the choice to be free

to cry or to laugh


Love and Joy.
Margherita

Freedom by Kent - a Canadian artist

Thank you for sharing Japanese classic poetry with us. I really would like to learn more about it.

Love
Vicky

Thank you very much yoko.
I am not at all familiar with Japanese poetry, so this is very new and interesting to me. Like Vicky, I would like to learn more.

Love,
Sue

Thank you yoko.

I appreciate all forms of poetry and classical writing. I have studied some far eastern poetry a while ago and this brings back nice memories.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you all for joining me in my post.

Zeami, a famous Noh author, in his play Izutzu, some verses:
"A boy and a girl, the children of two men who traveled over the countryside, used to play together beside a well. As they grew up, they both felt rather self-conscious about continuing the old relationship, but the boy had set his heart on marrying the girl, and she was determined that she would be his wife, and refused to agree when her father tried to betroth her to someone else. The boy sent the girl this poem:


Since I last saw you,
it seems to have grown until
I am the taller -
my height that we two measured
against the curb of the well.
She replied:

The mid-parted hair
I once measured against yours
hangs towards my waist.
For whom should it be put up,
unless it be for you?
After many such poems had passed between them, their wishes were realized and they became man and wife.

Tadashi Azoma

Thank you again yoko for sharing Japanese classic writing with us.
This is a very beautiful post.

Love,
Vicky

Thank you Vicky for bringing back yoko's intertesting post.
I am enjoying it very much.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you for bringing back my post Vicky.

mo mo yama mo
yuki ni torarete
nanimo mashi


Mountains and plains,
all captured by the snow-
nothing remains.

-Joso (1661-1704)

Translation by Harold Henderson, An Introduction to Haiku

Painting in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria