This phantasm
of falling petals vanishes into
moon and flowers …
~Okyo*
*cited:
Japanese Death Poems
Yoel Hoffmann
japanese poetry
100 days…67th day
Children,
let’s go to the mountain
to view violets.
If they scatter away tomorrow,
what can we do?
~Ryokan*
*cited:
Sky Above, Great Wind
Trans: K Tanahashi
100 days…66th day
The stars pass.
The moon passes.
Blue clouds pass above the mountains to the north.
The years go by.
~Empress Jito*
*cited:
Women Poets of Japan
Trans: K Rexroth & I Atsumi
100 days…64th day
I can no longer tell dream from reality.
Into what world shall I awake
from this bewildering dream?
~Akazome Emon*
*cited:
Women Poets of Japan
Trans: K Rexroth & I Atsumi
100 days…63rd day
In the mountain shade,
water in the moss
drips between rocks.
I feel a glimmer
of clarity.
~Ryokan*
*cited:
Sky Above, Great Wind
Trans: K Tanahashi
100 days…61st day
On a mountain slope
Solitary, uncompanioned
Stands a cherry tree.
Except for you, lonely friend,
To others I am unknown.
~Abbot Gyoson*
*cited:
weekly photo challenge: curve
If anyone
is going to my hometown,
send a message that
I have passed
Omi Province.
~Ryokan*
submitted in response to Cheri’s photo challenge “…get inspired by the curves around you…”
*cited:
Sky Above, Great Wind
Trans: K Tanahashi
100 days…54th day
I don’t regard my life Continue reading
100 days…52nd day
We meet and we part,
Coming and going hearts like passing clouds
…
~Ryokan*
Sky Above, Great Wind
Trans: K Takahashi
100 days 47th day
In an old temple
deep in Mount Koya,
Kii Province,
I listen to raindrops
falling from a cedar tree.
~Ryokan*
*cited:
Sky Above, Great Wind
Trans: K Tanahashi
100 days…46th day
Gloriously
Shines the spring sun
A skylark soars
And sad am I,
Alone with my thoughts
~Man’yoshu*
*cited:
100 days…44th day
Morning haze
hides blossoms from the wind
too completely
~Senjun*
*cited:
Haiku before Haiku
Trans: S Carter
a meditative journey 
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