Kokinshu #11

Sunday, 24 October 2010 08:54
lnhammer: the Chinese character for poetry, red on white background (Default)
[personal profile] lnhammer
A poem on the beginning of spring.

    People are saying
that springtime has arrived,
    but I do believe
that it isn't really spring
until the bush warbler sings.

—17 September 2010

Original by Mibu no Tadamine, one of the four compilers of the Kokinshu (which has 36 of his poems -- more than anyone but the other editors). His dates are unknown, but he flourished from the 890s to around 920. It may be just me, but this makes me think of conversation at a cocktail party.


haru kinu to
hito wa iedomo
uguisu no
nakanu kagiri wa
araji to zo omou


---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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