Selected
from the above paperback, I have translated a number of tanka and showed them
on Facebook. Lately, I've been neglecting my blog, so here I am.
Takuboku
is one of Japan's major poets. He lived in extreme poverty, so many of
his poems are grim, but I think I've selected here a good mix just to introduce
to those readers who have never heard of his name. His tanka speak to our heart. Talking
of heart, I’m still writing about my mother.
Takuboku
was one of my mother's favorite poets. She often recited his poem
effectively at the right moment. Yes, she was a great private actress!
But I didn’t think we were poor when I was young, and I didn’t think much
about it. Now I’m older and live in my
fixed income, I feel much more.
I
thought about it. I think my father had
influence on Mother in the area of poetry.
He kept quiet. Mother performed all
the artistic expressions throughout our daily life. The first one was my mother’s favorite when I
was young.
I hope you enjoy reading.
i work and work more
but my life doesn't get easier
stare at my hands
but my life doesn't get easier
stare at my hands
22
the hustle and bustle of Asakusa
in the evening
meanders in and out
that sad heart
24
pick up a mirror
and make every possible various faces
when i'm tired of crying
31
'die for such a small thing?'
'live for such a small thing?'
stop, stop questions and answers
46
cross my arms
and think lately
storm out before many eyes of enemy
60
on the road side
a dog makes a long yawn
i do the same
out of envy
the hustle and bustle of Asakusa
in the evening
meanders in and out
that sad heart
24
pick up a mirror
and make every possible various faces
when i'm tired of crying
31
'die for such a small thing?'
'live for such a small thing?'
stop, stop questions and answers
46
cross my arms
and think lately
storm out before many eyes of enemy
60
on the road side
a dog makes a long yawn
i do the same
out of envy
without a reason
i want to dash out and run
until no more breath
perhaps on a meadow
show just one incredible thing
and while people are surprised
I think I'd disappear
i want to dash out and run
until no more breath
perhaps on a meadow
show just one incredible thing
and while people are surprised
I think I'd disappear
2 comments:
The four lines verses seem to be to be proverbial in nature. Very interesting.
ZACL,
Tan means short, and ka means song. One tanka comprised 5-7-5-7-7 of Japanese smallest units of speech.
For example, take this tanka.
i work and work more
but my life doesn't get easier
stare at my hands
5 hatarakedo
7 hatarakedo nao
5 waga kurashi
7 raku ni narazari
7 jitto te wo miru
So, if you count hatarekedo, it's 5, right? ha-ta-ra-ke-do. The second line is wa-ga ku-ra-shi, and in Japanese roman letters, shi is si as ku-ra-si.
FYI, we are not restricted by the number of lines. Some books show tanka as one long line without any space in-between words and almost no punctuation because punctuation is considered disruption to our especially in poetry. But not always because people nowadays probably prefer with some punctuation for easier reading.
Because the smallest unit of our speech often has meaning, again not always of course, and we have much more details such as changing one smallest unit of sound makes a big difference in the meaning or feeling.
I should probably show one tanka at a time, but I wanted to show a good mix of his tanka. He also wrote poems in long form.
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