English Original
sprays of wisteria
arranged in a vase --
the blossoms hang down,
and by my sickbed
spring is coming to an end
Dawn to the West: Japanese Literature of the Modern Era, 1984
Masaoka Shiki
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
一簇簇紫藤
插在花瓶裡 --
它們的花朵下垂,
在我的病床旁
春天即將結束
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
一簇簇紫藤
插在花瓶里 --
它们的花朵下垂,
在我的病床旁
春天即将结束
Bio Sketch
Masaoka Shiki (October 14, 1867 -- September 19, 1902) was a Japanese poet and literary critic in Meiji period Japan. Shiki is regarded as a major figure in the development of modern haiku, and he also published articles on the reform of tanka. Some scholars and poets consider Shiki to be one of the four great haiku masters, the others being Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa.
Shiki's tanka effectively builds, line/poetic phrase (ku) by line/poetic phrase (ku) to a thematically significant and visually and emotionally poignant ending that reveals the theme of dying. When evaluated in the biographical context/at the time of writing, i.e. Shiki's imminent death, L5 adds emotional weight and psychological depth to the tanka.
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