Chen-ou Liu's Translation Project: First English-Chinese Haiku and Tanka Blog

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Selected Tanka Prose: The Road Less Traveled

In 1693, parting from his favorite disciple Kyoroku, Basho said, “Didn't the retired Emperor Go-Toba say of Saigyo's poetry that it contained truth tinged with sorrow? Take strength from his words and follow unswervingly the narrow thread of the Way of poetry.”

a sliver of moon...
I cling to the thin line
of labor
to capture loneliness
in love poetry

NeverEnding Story, April 5, 2013