Kokinshu 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 …

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Kokinshu 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 …

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Kokinshu 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 …

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Drops from Keido Fukushima’s “Leaves”

wind and sea—the leaves we leavefor other generations little by little—the leaves line upto be lifted by the wind pure sky—awakened to soundof single leaf trees and skies—the generations growfrom leaf to leaf running in the wind—searching for “self”in the veins of time water and life—a drop in the moon’smidnight …

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