Seen, and yet not seen–
that such a one could be
so longed for–
today I spent the whole day
hopelessly gazing
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
9th Century Japanese poetry
Ariwara No Narihira on aging
In the end I find
I take no pleasure in the moon–
these very moons,
when they pile up,
are what brings us to old age!
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
Ariwara No Narihira on cherry blossoms
If there were no such thing
as cherry blossoms
in this world,
in springtime how untroubled
our hearts would be!
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
untitled poem 4 by Ono No Komachi
The flower’s color has passed,
I gazed on it in vain,
while trying to live my life.
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
untitled poem 3 by Ono No Komachi
They change,
though you can’t see it
in the color of their faces–
these blossoms that are the hearts
of the people of this world
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
untitled poem 2 by Ono No Komachi
As certain as color
Passes from the petal,
Irrevocable as flesh,
The gazing eye falls through the world.
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
untitled poem 1 by Ono No Komachi
Imperceptible
It withers in the world
This flower-like human heart.
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
tanka 2 by Ariwara No Narihira
Neither waking or sleeping,
I saw the night out,
and now spend
all day in thought,
staring at these long spring rains.
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
tanka 4 by Ono no Komachi
So lonely am I
My body is a floating weed
Severed at the roots
Were there water to entice me
I would follow it, I think.
translated by Donald Keene
tanka 3 by Ono no Komachi
This night of no moon
There is no way to meet him.
I rise in longing–
My breast pounds, a leaping flame,
My heart is consumed in fire.
translated by Donald Keene
Leonard Durso 