No.15 Filial Love
9th Century. Emperor Kōkō reigned only 3 years but had 41 imperial sons and daughters.
Filial Love
It is for thy sake
That I seek the fields in spring,
Gathering green herbs,
While my garment’s hanging sleeves
Are with falling snow beflecked.
Emperor Kōkō
Kimi ga tame
Haru no no ni idete
Wakana tsumu
Waga koromode ni
Yuki wa furi-tsutsu.
Kōkō Tenno
About this poetry
At Salty Dog Digital we’ve decided to gradually republish Clay MacCauley’s translation of Single Songs of a Hundred Poets – a collection of japanese poetry from the seventh through thirteenth centuries. Sixty four of these poems are the rewards in our game fourtex zen.
fourtex zen on Gamasutra
No.14 A Lover's Protest