The troubled waters are frozen fast.
Under clear heaven, moonlight and shadow
Ebb and flow.

~ lady murasaki



Poems from the Japanese
translated by
Kenneth Rexroth



I have always known that at last I would take this road
but yesterday, I did not know that it would be
today.

~ narihira



The cricket cries in the frost.
On my narrow bed, in a folded quilt,
I sleep alone.

~ the regent fujiwara no go-kyogoku



No one spoke,
The host, the guest,
The white chrysanthemums.

~ ryota