Tanka 3 in my series:
Tamakazura
Outside, on the stream,
a pair of Mandarin ducks
paddle in tandem.
If roofs were removed, would we
see such faithfulness, or not?
The Jeweled Chaplet (Tamakazura)
24 Thursday Aug 2017
Category Archives: Romance
Kashiwagi (The Oak Tree)
23 Wednesday Aug 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Literature, mythology, Nostalgia, Poetry, Relationships, Romance, Writing
Another tanka, but not necessarily in the same order as
the material would be found in the original Tale of
Genji. Follows on from previous post, which is my number 1
of the series.
Kashiwagi
Kashiwagi lies
sick in bed, while his father
discusses his plight,
unaware of the affair
with Genji’s wife: Third Princess.
Tanka from The Tale of Genji
23 Wednesday Aug 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Literature, mythology, Nostalgia, Poetry, Relationships, Romance, Writing
The Tale of Genji was written by a lady-in-waiting called
Murasaki Shikubu in the 11th century. She delivered the
tale in instalments to nyokan (aristocratic women.)
Here is a little taste, but the tanka are my own.
The illustrations are by Tosa Mitsuoki, from the 17th century.
Fujibakama
Yugiri, the son
of Genji, arrives in court
with a love poem
and purple flowers because
the girl is not his sister.
100 Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 9
18 Tuesday Jul 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Nostalgia, Philosophy, Poetry, Psychology, Relationships, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
81 onwards….
(Visipix.com)
Who is the cuckoo –
my lover, the moon… that bird?
The morning after!
(Visipix.com)
The wheel of fortune…
yes, no one can stay it.
Who knows what it brings.
(Visipix.com)
Even in the hills
there is nowhere to find peace.
Life’s never- ending.
(Visipix.com)
Even samurais’
significance can be lost
in past, or present.
(Visipix.com)
The moon has fooled me
by shining through cracks in doors.
Sublunary love!
(Visipix.com)
Is Saigyo’s sadness
to do with the world, himself,
or, indeed, with both?
(Visipix.com)
After the showers,
the fir trees’ needles still drip,
as my tears trickle.
(Visipix.com)
How much happiness
can one heart bear and how
much weight can reefs take?
(Visipix.com)
I waited for love
and my maids waited as well.
Then we fell asleep.
(Visipix.com)
He already leaves,
even though I tried so hard.
I’m not crying now.
100 Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 7
17 Monday Jul 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Community, Nature, Nostalgia, Poetry, Relationships, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
More in the Hokusai series!
(Visipix.com)
The Emperor praised
the eight-fold branch of blossom.
Next time we’ll bring trees!
(Visipix.com)
When the rooster crowed,
you said that you had to leave.
I’ve heard that before.
(Visipix.com)
Maskao – why you?
You turned celibate and then
told the guard, not me.
(Visipix.com)
Eventually
you are bound to catch a fish,
if you are patient.
No Number 66
(Visipix.com)
My heart on my sleeve;
tears are on display, but see –
no one really cares.
(Visipix.com)
We shared a pillow,
but nothing happened- really!
People are gossips.
(Visipix.com)
At night, all is gloom;
everything seems much worse,
bathed in soft moonlight.
(Visipix.com)
Maple leaves in streams
may look beautiful, but we
have our work to do.
(Visipix.com)
Ordinary life
goes on in every season-
even in Autumn.
100 Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 10
15 Saturday Jul 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Community, Environment, Nature, Nostalgia, Personal, Philosophy, Poetry, Psychology, Relationships, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
Tags
91-99- (no 100)
(Visipix.com)
The cricket’s chirrup
makes a difference- details
matter in love too.
(Visipix.com)
My sleeves wet with tears
and waves tell no secrets.
My child is quiet too.
(Visipix.com)
Collaboration
in Nature and in men too
achieves good results.
(Visipix.com)
No number 94…..
Priests on Mount Hiei
wear such impressive robes,
but what do they reveal?
(Visipix.com)
Old men wouldn’t mind
if ladies would sweep them up
along with the leaves.
(Visipix.com)
Burning kelp extracts
the salt from the seaweed but
not from all my tears.
(Visipix.com)
Riding on the back
of our forebears, we can see
a lot more that way.
(Visipix.com)
Until they’re re-born,
misery caused by soldiers
will be repeated.
Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 8
15 Saturday Jul 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Nature, Nostalgia, Personal, Philosophy, Poetry, Psychology, Relationships, Religion, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
Tags
71- (Visipix.com)
When Autumn winds blow,
the man who washes his feet
is truly grounded.
(Visipix.com)
A servant grasps me.
What kind of master has he?
He must be like him.
(Visipix.com)
In the blossom time,
even the drunks have a right
to gaze on beauty.
(Visipix.com)
Maybe it’s as well
the goddess didn’t answer
my humble prayer.
(Visipix.com)
Unfulfilled promise:
the reliable seasons
shame your fickleness.
(Visipix.com)
In the eye of storms,
we pit ourselves ‘gainst Nature
and just try our best.
(Visipix.com)
A stream divided
by a rock may still unite,
like love, downriver.
(Visipix.com)
The distillation
of sake may smooth our lives,
or may roughen them.
(Visipix.com)
Sometimes it is hard
to see if the moon or clouds
are moving. A torch!
(Visipix.com)
This morning my hair
is as tousled as my thoughts.
Will he care at all?
100 Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 5
15 Saturday Jul 2017
Tags
(Visipix.com)
No number 41- the above is 42. There is no 46, or 49)
No matter the oaths
we have pledged to each other,
they are in the past.
(Visipix.com)
I will punish him:
his effigy is nailed here
until he responds.
(Visipix.com)
I am a white fox.
I gave him a son; but he
wishes I had not.
(Visipix.com)
I have been a fool.
Harakiri is my fate.
People should not cheat.
(Visipix.com)
No 46. This is 47:
Though all is prepared,
yet in my soul is darkness
no one can detect.
(Visipix.com)
I sit out my love.
In daytime all is idle.
Fires will blaze at night.
No 49. This is 50:
(Visipix.com)
Carpe diem – yes!
Since you’re going to die young, make
smoke and burn brightly.
100 Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 6
14 Friday Jul 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Environment, Nature, Nostalgia, Poetry, Relationships, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
Tags
(Visipix.com)
Moxa burns and heals,
but the therapy I need
is hard-to-get girls.
(Visipix.com)
We leave in sedans.
The neighbours pretend that they
did not notice us.
(Visipix.com)
He was suspicious
when my door didn’t open;
now he sleeps outside.
No number 54
(Visipix.com)
When you hear the name
of a waterfall,
it’s like seeing it.
(Visipix.com)
Now on my deathbed,
I regret sending that note
you may not have read.
(Visipix.com)
Ah, on the wrong side….
You have just missed your father.
Our worlds seldom meet.
No 58….
(Visipix.com)
Sleep is more precious
than keeping awake all night,
mooning over love.
(Visipix.com)
If I never see
Ama-no-Hashidate,
who cares? Maybe ants.
100 Poems Explained by a Wet Nurse 4
14 Friday Jul 2017
Posted in art, Community, Environment, History, Nature, Nostalgia, Personal, Poetry, Relationships, Religion, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
(Visipix.com)
Even in winter,
we can survive the harsh cold,
if we work this hard.
(Visipix.com)
Individual leaves
are swept past by the torrents;
en masse, block bridges.
(visipix.com)
By the time work stops,
the blossom has turned quite brown,
so look while you can.
(Visipix.com)
The old pine needs help,
but is supported by sticks.
Look, just as I am!
(Visipix.com)
You planted plum trees
long ago, my friend, and now
their perfume persists.
(Visipix.com)
When the fish clean plates,
I hope they get some sake,
before dawn returns.
(Visipix.com)
We are blown off course –
fortuitously in here,
to taste Nature’s gems.
(Visipix.com)
He broke cords of love:
but I found there are plenty
more fish in the sea.
(Visipix.com)
Since my love left me,
I don’t notice the glory
in all around me.
(Visipix.com)
My face is as a book
and I find it hard to hide
the contents from you.
