Saturday, 22 January 2011

Kokinshu #54

Saturday, 22 January 2011 08:35
lnhammer: the Chinese character for poetry, red on white background (Default)
Topic unknown.

    If only there were
no waterfall down these rocks!
    -- then, cherry blossoms,
I would come pluck your flowers
for those who cannot see you.

—11 November 2010

Original author unknown. Ishibashiru ("running [over] rock") is a pillow-word/epithet for waterfalls and other kinds of rushing water, which does add to the sense of the stream being a barrier. As such, this hearkens back to the mountain setting of #50-51.


ishibashiru
taki naku mogana
sakurabana
taorite mo komu
minu hito no tame

---L.

About

Warning: contents contain line-breaks.

As language practice, I like to translate poetry. My current project is Chinese, with practice focused on Tang Dynasty poetry. Previously this was classical Japanese, most recently working through the Kokinshu anthology (archived here). Suggestions, corrections, and questions always welcome.

There's also original pomes in the journal archives.

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