{"collection":"shi","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/shi/msj/msj10.htm","path":"shi/msj/msj10.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/shi/msj/msj10.htm","text":"The Master-Singers of Japan, by Clara A. Walsh, [1914]\nThe Poet, and Editor of the \"Kokinshiu\"\nHe was a Court noble, and of royal descent; he died in A.D. 946. His preface to the \"Kokinshiu\" is full of poetic thoughts and bas much beauty of style. One of its passages runs as follows: \"The Poetry of Yamato has the human heart for its seed, and grows therefrom into the manifold forms of speech.\" For further extracts see W. G. Aston's \"History of Japanese Literature.\"\nAnother work of Tsurayuki\u2014the \"Tosa Nikki\"\u2014is in the form of a diary written on his return to Kioto after completing his term of office as prefect there; it is dated the beginning of the year 935 A.D. During his stay at Tosa he lost his little daughter of nine years, and the Tanks following probably has reference to his bereavement.\nBy Kino Tsurayuki\nDrive us toward the glistening shell-strewn sand,\n I would descend from out my ship, O waves!\n \"Shell of forgetfulness\"\u00a0* clasped in my hand,\n Then shall my soul obtain the peace it craves\u2014\n Forgetfulness of all the longing vain\n For her whose face I may not see again!\nIt is the dawning of the Spring,\n Yet does it seem to me\n The brown leaves of the Fall\n Scattered beyond recall\n Float on the jewelled sea!\nUnseen above me in the night,\n Dark autumn night, they swiftly fly,\n The wild geese on their southward flight.\n While listening to their plaintive cry,\n I think of old friends far away,\n And muse if, as in olden days,\n These birds some message might convey\n From those who dwell in distant ways!\nWere but the plum-flowers scentless as the snow,\n That softly falls upon the budding spray,\n How could we tell the pure white blooms that blow\n From the cold snowflakes, all alike as they,\n Starring the brown boughs\u2019 tracery to-day?\nCompiled A.D. 905-922\nShall I forget thee?\n Not for that instant brief,\n In which the lightning's blade\n Lights up each ear of grain,\n Each swaying stem and leaf,\n When Autumn decks the plain\n \u00a0\u00a0In rare brocade\n\u00a0\u00a0In this Spring night\n Of all-pervading grey,\n \u00a0\u00a0No ray of light\n Reveals the plum-tree's spray,\n But viewless to the skies\n Its perfumes still arise.\nEven as this passing life of ours,\n The cherry-blossoms fair display!\n Scarce have we gazed, in fragrant showers\n Of petals, from the wind-tossed spray,\n The blossoms\u2019 beauties pass away!\nSee the red maple-leaves that swirl\n In Autumn storm-winds t brief their span,\n Into the outer dark they whirl!\n More fleeting still the life of man.\nAn ancient tomb, with withered shikimi,\n Where the red dragon-flies flit to and fro!\nBefore I slept, I thought of thee,\n Then fell asleep, and sought for thee,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And found thee:\n Had I but known \u2019twas only seeming,\n I had not waked, but lain for ever dreaming!\nSeki is a fair place and a lovely,\n With glorious morning sun.\n There, from the holy mountains\n Softly the winds blow, softly!\nWhat of our life! \u2019Tis imaged by a boat:\n The wide dawn sees it on the sea afloat;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Swiftly it rows away,\n And on the dancing waves no trace is seen\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That it has ever been!\nThat which we see in sleep,\n Is that alone a dream?\n To me the world itself\n Is not what it may seem,\n But just a phantasy!\n57:* Wasure-gai, shell of forgetfulness\u2014name of a Japanese shell.","title":"The Master-Singers of Japan: VII.","type":"page"}