The Names of the Buddhas 仏名
かづけつけるわたひきかけよ小夜過ぎてむろへかへらんせながかくして
| kazuke tsukeru wata hikikakeyo sayo sugite muro e kaeran sena ga kakushite | With his reward of Cotton held high, After a brief night’s end He returns to his cell and Hides himself within… |
Toshiyori
Having just been sent a book of Ryōkan’s poems by a friend, and eager to know more about waka, lovely to come across your website… what a wonderful labour of love. Thanks.
Given that the book got soggy in the outside mail box, I sent my friend the following – my first ever English-style waka – on a postcard:
the book you sent me
soaked to the skin by the rain
took five days to dry
thus blessed by the elements
Ryōkan’s poems now bless me