{"collection":"shi","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/shi/msj/msj09.htm","path":"shi/msj/msj09.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/shi/msj/msj09.htm","text":"The Master-Singers of Japan, by Clara A. Walsh, [1914]\nDeparting from Naniha on a Mission to China\nE\u2019en as the hart, who ardent woos his mate\n When the bush-clover opens purple blooms,\n Hath one son only, even thus am I\n Mother of only one, who even now\n On a far journey fares, in a strange land,\n With but, perchance, grass-pillow for his head.\n Wherefore close-threaded beads of bamboo rings\n And brimming jars of sak\u00e9 I set forth,\n And shining yufu cloths, before the shrine,\n Praying the mighty God, with humble prayers,\n To bring my loved one safely home to me!\n(From the \"Many\u00f4shiu\")\nIn the upper reaches of the river,\n Hatsus\u00e9's secluded upper reaches,\n Dive the eager cormorants, respondent\n To the will and bidding of their keepers.\n In the lower waters cormorants diving\n Many shining fishes let to swallow.\nFair and bright was she who now is lying,\n Parted from me, a full bow-shot, lying,\n And my heart is burdened down with sorrow,\n Full of thoughts of her and full of sorrow.\nRudely torn may be a hempen mantle,\n Yet a skilful hand may join it fitly;\n Snapped may be the string where pearls are threaded,\n Yet the thread all swiftly be re-knotted;\n But, my dear one, you and I once parted\n Never more may meet\u2014ah! nevermore!\nBy the Lady Sakanohe no Isatsune\nMy Lord had vowed that with deep constancy\n Firm-rooted as the sturdy sedge that grow\n In the clear pools of Naniha\u2014so he\n Would love and guard me through the golden years.\n I gave my heart to him (ah! foolish heart!\n Yet stainless as a mirror's burnished face)\u2014\n Into his keeping, and on him I leaned,\n Trusting in him, as sailor in his ship\n Nor, as the drifting seaweed to and fro,\n Backwards and forwards in the swirling tides,\n Has my love wavered from that very hour!\n Yet now, perchance, the mighty gods have willed\n To part us twain. Or is it evil words\n Of envious mortals? For he comes no more,\n My Lord who came so often! neither sends\n White-wanded messenger to tell me why.\nFrom the red dawn until the dense night falls,\n And all the hours of darkness through I weep\n Hopeless and helpless. Plain for all to see\n My misery, and weeping like a babe,\n I wander forth, nor waiting, dare to hope\n For word or message from the one I love!\n(Lay 194 from the \"Many\u00f4shiu\")\nNo bird-songs at dawn-breaking, sound by the lonely sea,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where sleeps he, never waking;\n Behind him, faintly looming, the solemn mountains lie;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before him, waves dull booming.\n On shining seaweed pillow, he rests on pebbly shore,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Drenched by each wind-tossed billow.\n Not even mantle closing, with wings of dragon-fly,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Around his form reposing.\n All lone he lies, as sleeping forgetful of the world,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Of laughter or of weeping.\n Once loved him\u2014Father, Mother, haply young wife and fair\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Loved him above all other.\n But never word of greeting, from him to them shall pass,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nevermore place of meeting!\n Vainly a message seeking, homeplace and name tell not\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lips like a babe's unspeaking.\n Piteous the sight, heart-rending, but such the world's sad way,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All things to silence tending\nFair lady, tripping o\u2019er yon bridge,\n Spanning the foaming river's bed,\n Who, scarlet-robed with mantle blue,\n Crosses the lacquered arch of red\u2014\n I wonder, as I watch your form\n All unattended and alone,\n If in your homeplace gallant spouse\n Claims your sweet beauty as his own;\n Or if like single acorn, still\n Unmated and forlorn you pine!\n And nameless still, and still unknown,\n Your name and dwelling would divine.\n(From the \"Many\u00f4shiu\"\u20148th Century)\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In Azuma\n To grace the Imperial Reign\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All gold the flowers grow\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In Azuma.\n On all the heights of Michinoku glow\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The glittering blooms.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Imperial eyes might deign\n To glance upon the precious flowers that grow\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In Azuma!\nBy Prince Aki, A.D. 740\n\u00a0\u00a0On Is\u00e9's sea\n The white foam-blossoms play.\n \u00a0\u00a0Would they were blooms\n From out whose fair array\n \u00a0\u00a0Choosing the best\n I might select a spray\n \u00a0\u00a0For her I love!\nBy Prince Aki\nThe Moon is a barque on the sea of the skies,\n Where stormy and grey the cloud-billows arise,\n Nor tempest, nor calm, her serenity mars\n As she glides on her way to the groves of the stars!\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Now ere the rough caress\n Of the Spring breeze has tangled carelessly\n The young green willows' slender silken threads,\n Now would I show them in their fresh young grace\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unto my love!\nNot yet is past the cherry's blossom-time;\n \u00a0\u00a0Yet should the petals fall,\n Now, while their beauty's moon is at the full,\n And all the love of those who gaze on them\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is at its zenith\u2014\nA great minister and scholar; after holding high office, was banished as Governor of Ky\u016bsh\u016b, and died in A.D. 903. His death was said to have been followed by evil portents and disasters to his foes. He is worshipped as a God of Calligraphy\u2014and plum-trees are planted near his temple, his crest being plum-blossom.\nBy Sugiwara no Michizane\nI carry to the Shrine no offering\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Autumn day,\n Fairer than any gift that I could bring,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The rich display\n Of gold and crimson on Tamuke's side.\n The gods can revel in the maples' pride!\nBy Fujiwara Toshiyuki\nThrough flow\u2019ring branches\n Pour the sudden showers,\n Warm showers through branches\n Sweetly blossoming.\n What if they soak me,\n So the glistening flowers\n Let me partake\n Their fragrance of the Spring!\n54:* Azuma,\u2014an eastern Province of Japan whose mountains contain gold and mica.","title":"The Master-Singers of Japan: VI.","type":"page"}