Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Izumi Shikibu's love poems


For the full story of this beautiful poet, go to http://poem-a-day.knopfdoubleday.com/2010/04/29/izumi-shikibu/

Nothing
in the world
is usual today.
This is
the first morning.

*

Come quickly—as soon as
these blossoms open,
they fall.
This world exists
as a sheen of dew on flowers.

*

Even though
these pine trees
keep their original color,
everything green
is different in spring.

*

Seeing you is the thread
that ties me to this life—
If that knot
were cut this moment,
I’d have no regret.

*

Sleeplessly
I watch over
the spring night—
but no amount of guarding
is enough to make it stay.

No comments: