Intro:
As I look back on the semester and the hundreds of poems I have read, it can quickly become overwhelming due to the sheer number of verses. As I sit here brainstorming how I will organize my poems, I have come to the conclusion that it would make the most sense if they were in chronological order. During my planning session, I was attempting to find another option, but personally, I could not find another feasible solution that would not only make the poems flow, but also the analysis as well. Due to this simple organization theory, I hope that my reader is able to see a few things. The first of which is the evolution of ideas and cultural norms throughout the rich history of Japanese poetry. Secondly, I hope that due to my analysis, it will spark a new thought or prior consideration for my reader, because I think that is what studying poetry is all about. In my opinion, with the combination of my analysis and the simple organization method, I believe that my reader will have no issues in reaching my goals for this assignment.
First Poem: Carter the Ancient Age (17-51 pdf) Page 21 poem number six. The author of the poem is Emperor Tenji.
At the broad sea's edge
the setting sun casts its gleam
on banners of cloud:
this night, the moon of this night—
so clearly may its rays too shine!
Discussions of poem one:
At first glance, this poem stuck out to me not only because of the ground-level interpretation I had, but also the image it created in my head. At first, it caught my attention after I read the line “ the setting sun casts its gleam”. As a result of this, it created a picture in my head of a beautiful sunset and the tranquil mindset I have during dusk. As I thought about this poem more, it had a more profound impact on me than I was expecting. The first three lines of the poem made me reminisce on all the people who “cast their gleam” on me, especially in times of need. The usage of the phrase banners of clouds lead me to my interpretation because, for me, it has a melancholy emotion, before the sun is able to affect the clouds. As I read on, this poem only left me with a heightened feeling of my interpretation I previously discussed. To me, the last two lines speak to those who have lifted my spirits in times of need, as the rays were eventually able to shine. Lastly, this poem resonated with me because the poem discusses a transition from day to night, but I perceived it in another way. I understand it has, even when you might be going through a tough time, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how challenging it might be.
Second Poem: The Ancient Age(2). Page 55, poem number 66. The author of the poem is Lady Otomo and the title of the poem is: A poem on the moon.
Lady Otomo. A poem on the moon
Black as leopard-flower seeds
is the night-mist spreading round;
and through it all
the moonlight comes shining down—
a moving sight to look upon!
Decision of poem two
Initially, when I was first assigned to this reading, this specific poem jumped off the page for me on account of the unique language. At first, I had no idea what a leopard-flower seed was, so I turned to Google to assist me in trying to understand the relevance it has in this poem. Although this poem is very similar to the prior poem I discussed, for some reason that I cannot explain, I have a completely different perception of its overall message. The first two lines made me recount the struggles I have not only experienced personally, but also when I am in a team environment. The word choice of “spread around” brought to mind how quickly I can let my pessimistic thoughts run rampant in my head when I am not willing to spend time to dismiss them. On the other hand, it reawakened the memory of how easily limiting beliefs can strangle any team, as a core value for many successful teams is belief. As I kept reading, the last two lines had an overwhelming sense of gratification, which was a nice transformation, if I am being honest. These two lines reminded me that even though times might be hard, and you're dealing with a troubling mindset, there will be a light source in some form that will guide you out of the dark. Overall, when I look at the first two poems, it is interesting to see the similarities and differences between the two and how they describe light and darkness.
Third Poem: Ariwara no Narihira. Page 79, poem number 114.
I have wandered lost
in the gloomy darkness
that is my heart.
Whether dream or reality,
let someone else decide.
Decisions of poem three
My primary thought in initially picking this poem when the reading was assigned was that I felt like it aligned perfectly with multiple class discussions we had, which entailed a dark and almost depressing undertone. Looking back on it, I believe that this poem provides a vessel to explore two significant moments that almost everyone experiences in their life. The first of which is going through heartbreak and all the downsides that come with that. Personally, the line that led me to that conclusion was “gloomy darkness that is my heart”; furthermore, the line previous to that only strengthens my opinion as the immediate aftermath of any relationship is feeling lost and alone. The second life-altering event that this poem represents to me is the idea of having a mentor in your life who can assist you in setting goals for yourself. I think that it is important for someone who has more life experience to guide you through goal setting, because oftentimes, young kids will overexert their potential, and it will stay a dream. On the other hand, if a role model observes one's goal, it will not often lead to a reality, hence the second-to-last line in the poem. Lastly, the belief that most young adults and sometimes even adults will wander through their lives, not knowing what their next step is. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this poem because it can connect to our lives in so many ways, even though it was written decades ago.
Fourth Poem: Carter Early Medieval Age (1). Page 151 poem 273. The author of this poem is Fujiwara no Shunzei. Poem description: “ AUTUMN. Written as an autumn poem for a
hundred-poem sequence”
Daylight fades away
and the autumn wind on the fields
pierces to the soul:
a quail cries from the deep grass
of Fukakusa Village.
Decision of the fourth poem
What drew me to this specific poem out of numerous other poems in this text was the emotional depth that this poem provided. Unlike the other poems I have previously mentioned, I was able to recognize this profound emotion that the author displayed in this poem almost immediately due to prior knowledge that was mentioned in class. As we have discussed in class, the great deal of significance that the weather played on Japanese culture, in my opinion, this poem hits the nail on the head in unpacking that intangible value. On the surface, this poem is just breaking down how the change in weather is specifically affecting not only the environment but the animals as well. But as we all know, there is almost always a hidden message that lies within the words. In this case, I think the underlying meaning is that those in life who are unprepared for change will be hit unexpectedly by “wind” and will seek shelter. Furthermore, I think the deep grass in this case represents the world outside your personal circle, or in a more realistic situation for me, life after college. If someone becomes lost in the tall grass, they will almost certainly be forgotten and pushed aside by society. Overall, this poem not only was able to intertwine principles of Japanese culture in the form of referring to the weather, but it also left a lasting impact on me, which included a lifelong message.
Fifth Poem: Shinkei Sogi Three Poets at Minase. Page 309, poem number 672. The author of this poem is Sögi, and the topic is Autumn
With no care at all
for the insects crying out,
grasses wither away.
Decision of the Fifth Poem
Even though this poem is shorter than the last four preceding works in this anthology, its short length does not indicate its insignificance. After sitting with my thoughts for a little while regarding this poem, I have yet to come across one that is almost a mirror image of my life. From my current standpoint, this poem addresses the issue of neglect and the idea of verbalizing discomfort. In the context of this poem, even though the insects are crying out for whatever reason, the grasses still wither away. For me, this echoes a problem that almost everyone has in this complex modern society: complaining or criticizing something that has no effect on the person or group of people you may be engaging with. As a result of this, eventually those concrete pillars in your life, the “grass,” will fade away, and you will be left with nothing. Although I may have a multitude of issues that I would love to rant about, as does everyone, I try my best to halt myself from doing so in order to keep those who I value in my life, a steady constant. This poem connects to the previous one because it not only focuses on the autumn, but it also maps out what someone’s life may look like if they are unable to handle difficult situations by themselves. It is very interesting to see how poems that may not be written to serve the same purpose can ultimately come together to reveal a personalized puzzle that indicates their own analysis.
Sixth Poem: Buson and Issa pdf. Page 391, prime number 960
Ah, what a pleasure
to cross a stream in summer-
sandals in hand.
Discussion of Poem Six
Similar to previous poems, this work initially left an impression on me because I was able to relate to the basic meaning since summer is around the corner. Moreover, throughout my life, I have lost count of the number of times I have waded through a stream barefoot. To be honest, as a result of the poem's simple nature, it left me at a loss for words when it came to trying to pick this poem apart. After a while, I was finally able to dissect why this author decided on a minimalist approach to creating their poem, with the assistance of the other poems in the anthology. So far, all the poems have had a deeper significance that sparked an individual emotion, but I think the beauty in this poem is how simple it is. For me, this poem allows me to reminisce on a much simpler time when I was younger and look back at all the great experiences I was fortunate to live through. While there may be a different way to interpret this poem, I was just able to pick up on the straightforward message. I think the authors of this poem intentionally made it clear-cut, not only to make the poem more comprehensible, but Issa did not want to avoid taking away from the frequent soothing experience, that is, navigating a stream barefoot. After trying to unpack this poem, it is captivating to see how all the poems hold a different significance to my way of thinking.
Seventh Poem: Buson and Issa pdf. Page 421, poem number 1056.
Blossoms appeared-
to be dug up on the spot
with the cherry tree.
Discussion of Poem Seven
Looking back through the semester and all the poems I have read, this specific one has to be one of my favorites. The initial reason why I picked this is due to the usage of imagery and the language, as the word choice is almost graceful in a sense. Additionally, I now understand the significance of the cherry tree and how it aids in the overall message of the poem. Parallel to the prior poems, the specific word choice reflects summer in a flawless manner, as I experience similar events. In addressing the greater meaning of this poem, I think it is important to recognize the importance of the second line in the poem. In my view, it hints at the fact that even though you may cross paths with someone, change is inevitable, and nothing is ever set in stone. Not to mention the fact that through the personification of the cherry blossoms, it implies that promises and change are temporary, even though they may seem beautiful in the moment. Going back to the first line of this poem, it reminded me of all the times that I thought life was simplistic and it was a walk in the park. Although these views are very pessimistic, I think it is important to recognize that it often is the truth, and if someone is unable to comprehend that, they will almost certainly be blindsided by life's challenges. As I am reaching the finish line of the anthology, it is fascinating to see how poems that were written centuries ago still have lessons that correlate with modern times.
Eighth Poem: Salad Anniversary excerpts Jack Stam trans.pdf. The author of this poem is Tawara Machi
"Cold out, isn't it?"
you say, and get an answer,
"Cold out, isn't it ?"
How warm it makes you feel
that someone's there to answer.
Discussion of Poem Eight
As I have reached the final leg in my anthology, it is a great pleasure to write about my favorite poem of the year. In the early moments of this poem, I failed to understand not only what was happening in the poem but also how there could even be a deeper meaning to this poem. As a result, I selected this poem for the homework assignment to write about my confusions, but as I started to write, the significance began to hit me. At first, it was a playful event that happened in a relationship, when you try to have a conversation with your partner, but they are too preoccupied with a task, so you ask the same question again. Most of the time, when this occurs, it is by accident, and there is no harm, no foul. It was quite amusing rereading the poem with my newfound knowledge, because I have seen my parents have the same interaction many times before. With that in my mind, I thought I had dug deep enough to understand the greater significance, but I found out that I was wrong. Looking closely at the last two lines of the poem, it conveys the message that in times of need, when someone is there to answer, it lifts up your morale. I think it is intriguing that when there was no answer, the feeling was cold, but when there was an answer, the emotion was warm. This connects back to my previous point because when there is a lack of answers in a time of need, you often feel lost and confused, but when solutions are provided, you almost feel like a whole new person.
Conclusion:
Looking back on my creation, I am overall very proud of the work that I produced. I think that I was able to live up to the goals that I laid out in the introduction, and throughout the process, I was able to solidify not only my ideas but also those that were discussed throughout the semester. Lastly, I think the selection of my poems and my analysis correlates to how our conversations have evolved during class and how that opened my eyes to hidden messages that lay within the poems.
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