before break dancing
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In the past, there was a prince known as Prince Koretaka. He had a palace at a place called Minase, on the far side of Yamazaki. Every year when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, he went to that palace. On those occasions he always took along a person who was the director of the right imperial stables. It was long ago and I have forgotten his name.
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If only this world
were without cherry blossoms
then would our hearts
be at ease
in springtime.
were without cherry blossoms
then would our hearts
be at ease
in springtime.
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It is because they fall soon
that the cherry blossoms
are so admired.
What can stay long
in this fleeting world?
that the cherry blossoms
are so admired.
What can stay long
in this fleeting world?
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I've spent the day hunting
and now will seek lodging
from the Weaver Maid
for I have come
to the River of Heaven.
and now will seek lodging
from the Weaver Maid
for I have come
to the River of Heaven.
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She who waits patiently
for a lord who comes
but once a year
will not, I am sure,
lodge any other.
for a lord who comes
but once a year
will not, I am sure,
lodge any other.
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How can the moon
hide itself
before we are satisfied?
I wish the mountain rim would flee
so the moon might stay in view.
hide itself
before we are satisfied?
I wish the mountain rim would flee
so the moon might stay in view.
I wish the peaks
one and all
might be leveled:
if there were no mountain rims
the moon would not hide.
one and all
might be leveled:
if there were no mountain rims
the moon would not hide.
Narihira (Ariwara no Narihira) (825–80)
translation by Lewis Cook and Jamie Newhard
translation by Lewis Cook and Jamie Newhard
Labels: frances gearhart, grueby pottery, Jamie Newhard, Kano Sansetsu, Lewis Cook, Narihira, poetry, trees, van gogh, william rice