02 Saturday Dec 2017
(Pear tree blossom by Ruslan; Wikimedia Commons ; uploaded to Flickr by Pauk)
The pear tree’s blossom
seemed of little consequence
to my casual glance.
I would not have fastened it
to a love letter;
but when I scrutinised it,
I noticed something
quite remarkable, in fact:
its petals have a blush tinge,
right around the edge
and so, I then understood
why Yang Kuei’s face,
dampened with tears, was described
as a rain-streaked spray of pear.
27 Friday Oct 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Literature, Nostalgia, Poetry, Relationships, Romance, Social Comment, Writing
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Fujitsubo’s voice
curled round her hangings, like smoke.
Genji, now a man,
could no longer draw these drapes
and, if he were to visit
over-sensitive women,
he would freeze to death
on their balconies, while they
admired the swirling snowflakes,
his friend advised him.
When the colours of a robe
don’t match the season,
it is like the wrong partner
and your heart is frost-damaged.
25 Wednesday Oct 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Literature, Poetry, Psychology, Relationships, Romance, Writing
(Utagawa, JAOD)
Love seemed a torment:
it had all been so fleeting
and now she was gone.
He could not quench his regrets
and felt deep despair.
Why had he left her alone?
Orange blossom scent
mingled with his memories.
Everything seemed so dream-like.
No explanation
of her death seemed to make sense.
O, clandestine love,
your effects are so profound;
your inception so shallow.
24 Tuesday Oct 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Literature, Poetry, Relationships, Religion, Romance, Writing
(Chikanobu: Snow-bijin entering
the temple. JAOD)
Everything changes;
nothing lasts, the old nun said.
To see a beauty
in a nunnery was odd.
Hiding from the world
must be a sad reaction.
He was made restless
by that one, brief glimpse of her.
But she would not answer him;
she would rather die.
He saw it as haughtiness.
A man’s insistence,
she felt, was just like the wind
which would blow hot and then cold.
24 Tuesday Oct 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Literature, Poetry, Psychology, Relationships, Religion, Writing
(Kotozuka Eiichi: JAOD)
In the tedium,
the gloom became contagious.
His querulousness
was becoming quite tiresome.
She felt like someone
half-way across a log bridge,
not knowing which way
she should go: forward, or back?
Irresolution gripped her.
Then she determined
that she would take her vows – now!
She sought no favour,
other than the way of peace.
.
23 Monday Oct 2017
Posted in art, Arts, Fashion, Literature, Poetry, Psychology, Relationships, Social Comment, Writing
(Kiyoshi Saito; Maiko Kyoto.
JAOD)
Although you can wear
the same clothing as others,
everyone’s unique,
even if they’re related.
You can’t summon up
individual qualities.
The Sanjo princess
did not quite reach his standard,
whatever she was dressed in.
She wasn’t equal
to Oigimi after all,
but he could train her.
She had a fair bit to learn.
He hoped she would not shame him.
23 Monday Oct 2017
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(Hiroshige. JAOD)
With tastes beyond means,
you are asking for trouble.
Dependable, safe
marriage will bring you comfort.
A man needs backing.
A good father-in-law helps:
on both sides favours.
Settle the verdant foothills
and eschew the volcanoes!
Think of your good name;
moderate your ambitions.
That’s the way to peace.
Overlook minor details
and you’ll see the way forward.
22 Sunday Oct 2017
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(Masao Ebina. Japanese Art Open
Database)
Deeper and deeper
she withdrew into herself.
She’d found his visits
a source of consolation.
Her house appeared cursed.
Impossible dilemmas
arose every day.
She felt the river beckon
and answered its siren call.
He heard his neglect
reflected in the torrents.
He found no closure
and no clear explanations,
but he did not follow her.
21 Saturday Oct 2017
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(JAOD : Takeji)
It is a grave sin
to die before one’s parent,
but it was too late:
they would meet in the next world.
The sutras were said;
monastery bells sounded.
She gave not a hint
of what she was intending.
Her soul began to wander.
She left her body.
Not a trace was left of her.
Dark confusion reigned.
Her mother’s dream foretold this,
but she could not prevent Fate.
21 Saturday Oct 2017
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(Ukifune 1882. Toyohara.
Japanese Art Open Database)
Treacherous river,
you have drowned many people.
If she were to die,
Ukifune considered,
it would end her woes.
She developed a talent:
dissimulation.
The general clearly knew
that something was going on.
Her indecision
led to a paralysis.
She longed for an end –
the world seemed only torment.
Even Death was to elude her.
