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Saturday, December 31, 2005

Three poems to mark the passing of the old year

A mountain temple --
Evening and the sunset bell,
whose every voicing
vibrates with a message sad to hear:
"Today, too, is over, dusk has come."
--Wakan roeishin #585


I have always known
that at last I would take this road, but yesterday
I did not know that it would be today.
--by Ariwara no Norihira


Say I'm out
Say no one's here
In five hundred million years
I'll come home.
--by Takahashi Shinkichi

6 comments:

  1. Hi Beachy,

    Yeah, I got in at about 2:30 a.m. after spending the day and most of the night in Philadelphia, my second home. I'll describe the visit in my next blog entry. Right now, it's sack time. :)

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  2. And this being my first New Year's to celebrate on Pacific Time, I'm just now going to sleep (1:55 AM my time). Lovely words to dream by, early on this last day of the old year. Thanks.

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  3. Hi,Michael-san,

    Ariwarano Norihira is a good poet! You read it in English? I didn't know English version. In Japanese school,We learned about his work.

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  4. Hi,Michael-san.

    In my junior high school days,I learned about Ariwarano Narihira.
    But I didn't remember this poem. Really good poem. I wish your 2006'be full of happiness!

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  5. Hi Miki-san,

    Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
    That poem by Norihira is one of my favorites. I really enjoy classical waka in general, but the one I quoted is my favorite so far.
    I hope you have a wonderful 2006, Miki-san!

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  6. Hi Kitty,

    I hope 2006 offers a pleasant antidote to all the upheaval you experienced in 2005. May it be a year of wonderful beginnings for you!

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