The world has so many eyes–
though we’re close
as steppingstones in a brook,
I must live with my love unspoken.
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
Japanese poet
On a birthday by Ariwara no Narihira
Cherry blossoms,
scatter and hide it,
that road they say
old age comes by–
make him lose his way!
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
On Nunobiki Waterfall by Ariwara no Narihari
Someone must be
unstringing them wildly–
white beads shower down
without pause,
my sleeves too narrow to catch them
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
on what one tries to leave behind by Saigyo
Why should my heart
still harbor
this passion for cherry flowers,
I who thought
I had put all that behind me?
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
poem by Otomo Surugamaro from The Man’yoshu
Again and again I think of her–
. . .a thousand waves
. . . .lapping my heart
. . . . .in a single day–
yet how hard it is to wrap that jewel
. . . . .around my wrist.
translated by Ian Hideo Levy
poem 2 by Otomo no Yakamochi from The Man’yoshu
If longing were a thing
one could die from,
death would have come to me
. . . . .and come again
a thousand times!
translated by Ian Hideo Levy
poem by Otomo no Yakamochi from The Man’yoshu
How can I make sure it stays in my hand,
this gem I would constantly gaze on,
in the morning and throughout the day?
translated by Ian Hideo Levy
To a lady glimpsed in a carriage by Ariwara No Narihira
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
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
Leonard Durso 