Grace Notes @ Snarkattack

I might be useless and depressed at the moment but at least I’m finishing up some books. I didn’t enjoy this volume of Japanese love poetry as much as I thought I would - a great surprise given that I quite like Japanese literature. This book contains selections from the Manyōshū which I believe is another great work of ancient Japanese literature and the poems are not all romantic love poems but also express love for one’s parents, siblings, country, mountains even. The Japanese are often known as being extremely appreciative of nature. A lot of these do discuss nature even when referring to the objects of their desire.

The most unusual line I read was in the last few pages of the book and is as follows:

Her tresses black as a mud-snail’s bowels…

(p. 102)

Not exactly the most romantic line I’ve ever come across in my life…you wouldn’t catch me writing that sort of thing to my loved one that is for certain!

Two I did like are as follows:

(by Taniha Ōme, a young woman)

Here where the wild ducks
Sport in the pond,
The leaves fall from the trees
And float - but no floating heart
Have I who love you true.

***

I will not comb my morning hair:
Your loving arm, my pillow,
Has lain under it.

The second one I do adore, as it’s a very touching image. Please note the formatting isn’t exact but I can’t get it to appear as it does in the text.

I have read translations of Japanese poetry and liked it immensely. I think this would be a good introduction if you’ve never read any such poetry before.