Composed when he was ill and growing weaker.
つひにゆくみちとはかねてききしかどきのふけふとはおもはざりしを
| tuFi ni yuku miti to Fa kanete kikisikado kinoFu keFu to Fa omoFazarisi wo |
In the end, we all set foot Upon the path-many times before I have heard tell, yet That it should come upon me now- I never did believe. |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
I found this poem by Narihira on a bus many years ago. I think I may have kept the original poster but it has gotten damp through all the moves and years. Where can I get a relatively small (8 x 10) copy of this poem with the Kanji, romanji and English?
Thank you for all your research and translation.
I got the marvelous opportunity to live in Japan back in the 70s during my military service. My heart is still there. It was the greatest time in my life.