We present this work in honor of the Vernal Equinox.
Japanese
1149 – 1201
Deep within the mountains
That Spring has come remains unknown;
On my pinewood door,
Slowly strike
Droplets of snowmelt.
Deep Within the Mountains
Japanese
1149 – 1201
Japanese Poets
Japanese
1149 – 1201
Skylark in the Heavens
We present this work in honor of the Japanese holiday, National Foundation Day.
Japanese
1703 – 1775
skylark in the heavens…
what do you think
of the boundless sky?
Over the Wintry
We present this work in honor of the poet’s 155th birthday.
Japanese
1867 – 1916
Over the wintry
forest, winds howl in rage
with no leaves to blow.
On the Removal of Prince Ōtsu’s Remains to the Futagami Mountains
We present this work in honor of the 1,320th anniversary of the poet’s death.
Japanese
661 – 702
From tomorrow ever
Shall I regard as brother
The twin-peaked mountain of Futagami-
I, daughter of man!
I would break off the branch
Of the flowering staggerbush
Growing on the rocky shore;
But no one says he lives
To whom I would show it!
River
We present this work in honor of the poet’s 90th birthday.
Japanese
b. 1931
Mother,
Why is the river laughing?
Why, because the sun is tickling the river
Mother,
Why is the river singing?
Because the skylark praised the river’s voice
Mother,
Why is the river cold?
It remembers being once loved by the snow.
Mother,
How old is the river?
It’s the same age as the forever young
springtime.
Mother,
Why does the river never rest?
Well, you see it’s because the mother sea
Is waiting for the river to come home.
Composed while he stood briefly in the shade of a tree at the Unrin In
Japanese
816 – 890
On his way to leave the world, a man
Comes to rest
Beneath the trees
But he finds no shade
For every Autumn leaf has fallen.
In the Thicket’s Shade
We present this work in honor of the Japanese holiday, Labor Thanksgiving Day.
Japanese
1763 – 1828
In the thicket’s shade
a woman by herself
singing the rice-planting song.
Chilling Autumn Rains
We present this work in honor of the Japanese holiday, Culture Day.
Japanese
1644 – 1694
Chilling autumn rains
curtain Mount Fuji, then make it
more beautiful to see
Without Stopping My Breath
We present this work in honor of the Japanese holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day.
Japanese
1642 – 1693
without stopping my breath
producing haikai poems
so many poem arrows!
The Spring Has Passed
Japanese
645 – 703
The spring has passed
And the summer come again
For the silk-white robes
So they say, are spread to dry
On Mount Kaguyama
Poets Corner 