there are some things
in life
you cannot avoid
and fate
is one of them
for fate is defined
by character
and character
is fate
fate
following lines from Wei Ying-wu: Destiny’s waves
my boat
on Destiny’s waves
to and fro
it goes
beyond my sometimes control
to lands
I’ve yet to see
some things in life
there are some things
in life
you cannot avoid
and fate
is one of them
for fate is defined
by character
and character
is fate
a tanka by Ariwara No Narihara
Tsui ni yuku
Michi to wa kanete
Kikishi kado
Kino kyo to wa
Omowazarishi wo
I have always known
That at last I would
Take this road, but yesterday
I did not know that it would be today.
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
a tanka by Ariwara No Narihara
In the end
that’s the road I’ll travel–
I’ve known it all along–
but I didn’t think I’d have to start
this very day
translated by Burton Watson
Leonard Durso 