Christophers poetry selection

 Introduction: 

As I reflect on the Japanese poems that I've studied throughout the semester, I'm very struck by the emotional depth that is packed into such short poems. I feel that all the poems that we read, whether it's from an ancient court tradition or modern Tonka innovations, all open a window into both Japanese culture and my own sense of connection with these poems. In order to organize my selections, I arranged the poems between historical and classical poems filled with voices, rooted in personal detail. I hope that the reader is able to see how poetry has evolved and changed its focus overtime. Through the structure, I'm aiming to blend my personal reflection with the thought and analysis of the poems we read this year. 

1.A Court Lady’s Musings

(Carter)

24. Things People Look Down On

The north side of a house.

A person with a reputation for excessive good nature.

A very old man.

A loose woman.

A crumbling earthen wall around an establishment.

At first glance, I feel like this poem reads like a list of minor Sad feelings and social judgments. But as I read the poem over, I feel like there's more of a sharp cultural feeling. There's some sort of dismissive tone that is added to things like the north side of the house or a loose woman. I feel like it doesn't only reflect personal opinion, but it shows some modern social biases, like judging people based on appearance or status. I feel like we still do this today; we make assumptions based on appearances or outdated beliefs. It kind of reminded me of how easy it is to misunderstand people just because of what we've been taught in our past and how we've been taught to value things.

2 . Pioneering Memories of the Tenth Century

(Carter - Glossamer Journal, PDF page 3)

Please do not persist, 

O cuckoo, in a fruitless song

Outside a house

Where there dwells no person

With whom you might care to speak.

1.  This poem really made me feel something as soon as I started reading it. I feel like the image of a bird calling out to an empty house is very sad and lonely. It is almost like someone trying to reach out, but no one is responding. I feel like we've all had moments when we try to connect with someone and we just get nothing back, I know I've definitely felt this. What made this poem feel even more emotional was the gentle way that the speaker is asking the bird to stop; it's almost like they are quietly giving up. Something that also headed home for me was how the feeling of hoping for a response and slowly accepting that it won't come. I also feel like the bird wasn't just a bird. It was a symbol of unspoken feelings and Japanese poetry birds like the Coco often show sadness or distance, and that definitely shows here. The poem is simple, but it says a lot about loneliness, hope and pain of not being heard.

3.Basho - Spring 912 (Basho's Disciples, poems 907-913)

Open his palm

Hel lets a flea crawl about

In blossom’s shade 

This prom really stood at me because it's peaceful and it's also kind of funny. I feel like an image of someone sitting under blooming Fowlers while a small flea is crawling on their hand is strange, but I also feel like it's weird, weirdly calming. At first, I felt like I might've left a little. It's such a small odd moment, but then I realize it's really about accepting the things that annoy you in life instead of always fighting against them. Basho, Was really good at finding beauty and everyday situations and I feel like it's usually the ones that don't seem beautiful at first. There's a contrast between peaceful blossoms and the little pest of an itchy flea. This kind of reminds me of how life is a mix of good and bad at the same time. I like how the poem doesn't really make a huge deal out of the flea and it's kind of just their existence. There's some sort of patience and acceptance within this program and I really admire it.  I feel like this poem says a lot about how we could choose to deal with life's challenges and annoyances. 

4.Prince Kinashikaru (Carter The Ancient Age, PDF page 3)

O heaven-soaring, Maiden of Karu:

if weep aloud, 

People will know our secret-

So like the doves

Of hasa mountain

I will weep, but weep quietly

The heaven-coursing birds are couriers:

Each time you hear

The call of a passing crane,  

Ask what has become of me.

This poem was really emotional for me, especially knowing the backstory. I feel like the speaker is dealing with forbidden love and is trying to keep their feelings hitting. This is very common within people today. What really touched me was the idea of a very soft cry that no one hears. I feel that there's some sort of strength in this feeling of pain but keeping it to yourself in order to protect the ones you love. I also feel like the energy of the bird also stuck with me, doves and cranes, birds. I feel like there's symbols of hope and love. I thought it was really beautiful how the speaker hopes the other person will hear the crane's call and thank the good things of them. This shows how strong love can really be even when people are not with each other. This made me think about how much people are willing to endure for love and how powerful it can be.

5. Izumi Shikibu - SPRING (Ono bo Komachi and Izumi Shikibu, PDF page 2)

Autum nights,

It seems, ae long by repute alone:

Scarcely had we met

When mornings’s fist light appeared,

I leaving everything unsaid.

This is another one of those poems where I felt some feeling as soon as I started reading it I feel like the moment passes too quickly like something meaningful happened, but it was over before we had the chance to take it in. Most people feel this way at some point in their lives where you're wishing you had some more time. I know I definitely feel this graduating as a senior. I feel like the line leave. Everything is very simple, but it's also expressing a lot.. It's like that feeling of regret when something that you love slips away from you. I also feel that the setting of an autumn night increases this feeling As autumn is usually connected to endings. I like how this poem don't over explain emotion and left some space for the reader to feel it in their own ways. 

6. Salad Anniversary Excerp (PDF page 2)

Picnic on the sand:

That egg sandwich lying there

Just lying there 

Untouched. Suddenly i find

Its been worrying me

This poem is something that you actually mentioned in class one day and you mentioned how you thought being pretty funny , And on the surface, I do think it's funny, but I also feel towards the end we get a very emotional Feeling. I think we've all definitely had some moments where some small things bugged us and then later we realized it was something entirely different. And that's what I think this poem is really about. I don't think it's about the sandwich, but I think it's about the feeling the author has. Sometimes we get stressed and overwhelmed, and our brains hold onto little things that don't really matter and get in the way of finding the root problem. I love this poem because it's a great example of how Japanese poetry could make you really think about your own life.

7.WINTER: 1780 

98x. At the house next door, 

he’s still talking -

An oil seller

Three feet now on the ground

In the snowy twilight.

I feel like this poem really painted a clear picture in my mind. The snow piling up and hearing the oilers voice and the cold evening air. I feel like Emotions are broader in the winter. There are quiet winter moments when everything around is still the trees are dusted with snow and you hear one small sound in the distance. I feel like this poem doesn't try and mess around or explain too, It's just sharing some simple observations. It makes me think about how much we notice until we really slow down and take everything in the lie. About 3 feet now on the ground, they may be talking about snow, but this also adds a quiet weight Like the world is settling in for the night. 

8.Other Poets of The Ancient Age (2)

74. In everything

Its new things that are best,

Except for in men:

Only men just get better

After they’ve grown old.

  I think this poem made me pretty happy and gave me some sort of a smile because it begins sounding like a joke but then it also makes a pretty good point. Everything new is usually seen as better except when it comes to men. I thought this was pretty interesting and a different way of how society uses people. It also makes me think about how differently age has seen men versus how it's seen in women. An older tax woman was praised for being very young and beautiful, but here we're sitting and Appreciation for older men. I feel like that's pretty sweet and also the speaker believes that they get better with time and wiser and more experience and I fully agree with this. It also feels like there's a small reminder not to chase after what's new just because it's new And how age can sometimes bring depth and value That can't be gained in any other way.

Conclusion:

When I'm looking back at all these poems, it helps me realize how much they taught me to slow down and noticed a little things, If it's a bird's cry a sandwich at the beach or a quiet winter evening I feel like all these poems help me understand small moments, and they all carry lots of meaning. What I like the most is how each one felt very personal. It's almost like I could find something in myself with all of these poems. Meanwhile, they were written in totally different time periods and places.  This pump showed me that strong feelings don't always need loads of words to be expressed. This also reminded me that silence and simple observations, even when not talked about can be very powerful. Within this project, I feel like poetry is not only something I just read, but it's something I felt and it's something that allowed me to connect with. I appreciate all the things our professor did for us this semester and thank you.