spring comes with new garments for the evergreens greener than the shades they leave behind Based on a poem by Minamoto no Muneyuki (d. 983).
Read MoreSpring Mist
spring mist rises from the leaves and grassy fields to dress and undress as silk robes in the wind Based on a poem by Ariwara no Yukihira (818-893).
Read MoreKokinshu 1009 – "Hatsuse River"
1009 Hatsuse River—Where ancient waters flowBeside the two-trunk tree When years have passedI hope we’ll meet againBeside the two-trunk tree はつせ河ふるかはのべにふたもとあるすぎ年をへて又もあひ見むふたもとあるすぎ Haru sarebaNobe ni mazu sakuMiredo akanu hanaMainashi niTada nanoru bekiHana no na nare ya Author unknown. The two-trunk cedar tree, the pairing with the …
Read MoreKokinshu 1008 – "When Spring Arrives"
1008 When spring arrivesAnd fields begin to bloomIf you see a flowerThat’s just a sproutMere whispers are bestUntil it’s out 春さればのべにまづさく見れどあかぬ花まひなしにただなのるべき花のななれや Haru sarebaNobe ni mazu sakuMiredo akanu hanaMainashi niTada nanoru bekiHana no na nare ya Author unknown. A reply to a poem #1007. He …
Read MoreKokinshu 1007 – "Slipping Away"
1007 Slipping away,The one I love—As I am broken. What’s the flowerThat bloomed in whiteWhen we were one? うちわたすをち方人に物まうすわれそのそこにしろくさけるはなにの花ぞも UchiwatasuOchikatabito niMono mousu wareSono soko niShiroku sakeru waNani no hana zo mo Author unknown. As the poet’s lover has not visited recently, the poet complains and …
Read MoreThe Song They Sang
The spirits Have gone away But in these ruins I hear the sacred sound Of the song they sang Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 高市黒人 高市黒人 Takechi no Kuroto 樂浪乃 楽浪の Sasanami no 國都美神乃 国つ御神の Kunitsumi-kami no 浦佐備而 うらさびて Ura sabite 荒有京 荒れたる都 Aretaru Miyako …
Read MoreI Play the Song
Time has passed And I am not the same But in the wandering tune Of this torn-up palace I play the song of what has gone “Sasama” is the name of the palace and literally means “music waves” or “music wandering.” Original Text Modern Text …
Read MoreA Gift from God
This tree grows through all the rocks that cover the spring field rising through the mist until it’s far into the sky reaching beyond the heavens providing strength for generation after generation a gift from God Inspired by Manyoshu #29 Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation …
Read MoreThe Song They Sang
The spiritsHave gone away But in these ruinsI hear the sacred soundOf the song they sang Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 高市黒人 高市黒人 Takechi no Kuroto 樂浪乃 楽浪の Sasanami no 國都美神乃 国つ御神の Kunitsumi-kami no 浦佐備而 うらさびて Ura sabite 荒有京 荒れたる都 …
Read MoreA Gift from God
This tree growsthrough all the rocksthat cover the spring field rising through the mistuntil it’s far into the skyreaching beyond the heavens providing strengthfor generation after generationa gift from God Inspired by Manyoshu #29 Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 柿本人麻呂 柿本人麻呂 Kakinomoto no Hitomaro …
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