Monday 10 April 2017

Variations on Heian Imagery

最近、「伊勢物語」を読んでいます。私の日本語はちょっと下手ですね、だから英語翻訳版を使っています。そして詩を書きたい。知りますよ、私の詩が極めて悪くて、面白くない。私は本当にわかります。それでもまだ書きたい。

I know, I don't understand poetry but I compose them regardless. Here is to creative freedom without being judged, although feel free to leave comments. As per the title, the following compositions are inspired by Heian imagery that can be found in The Tales of Ise. 
 


I.

Like the weeds that creep
up the veins of my heart,
the grasses of longing wither away
and the forgetting-grass plants its seeds. 


II.

Periwinkle of the Forget-me-not
now of crumbling dust
returning to the flowing Sands of time.

Until a lone star rises up
and takes its place among the skies
home to burning dewdrops of wasted fate. 


III.

The branch of Spring blossoms 
so demure,
they do not know of the garderner's scissors. 


IV. 

Which do you think
shall the cherry blossom  mourn for with greater sorrow--
its life that is as fickle as the spring 
or the blade that cuts it shorter?


V.

The ocean waves not to ricefields 
but the smoke of the salt-making fire 
travels with the wind 
bringing news of you that I could taste the sea.

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