久方の
光のどけき
春の日に
しず心なく
花の散るらむ
Hisakata no
Hikari nodokeki
Haru no hi ni
Shizu kokoro naku
Hana no chiruran
On a fine spring day
in sunlight’s tranquility
the enigmatic
cherry blossoms of
unquiet heart rush to fall
Ki no Tomonori (c. 845 – c. 905 AD) was an early Heiwa period poet of the court and one of the Thirty-Six Poetry Immortals (Sanjurokkasen) poet exemplars of the Asuka, Nara, and Heian periods. Ki no Tomonori not only authored several poems in the Kokin Wakashu, but compiled the poetry collection, although he was not able to complete this effort before passing. This poem is one of the 100 classical poems in the Hyakuninisshu anthology, which is also a favorite Japanese calligraphy subject. While many have translated the Hyakuninisshu poems, my original translations seek to keep the Japanese 5-7-5-7-7 tanka format in English. This is my original translation along with my calligraphy in the style of Nihon Shuji founder Harada Kampo.
Shoukei (照渓) is a practitioner and teacher of Japanese calligraphy and a Japanese-English translator. Her calligraphy pieces have appeared in exhibits in Tokyo, New York, and Jersey City. Her translations include technical writing, manga, poetry, and fiction. Shoukei utilizes her calligraphy and translations to showcase the beauty of Japanese art and culture to the rest of the world.
Instagram: @shoukeishodou
