No.8 A Buddhist's Reflection

The name of the place Kisen lived (Mount Uji) is similar in pronunciation to the word for gloom or sorrow (“ushi”). Hōshi is a title of rank more or less equivalent to “Priest.”

A Buddhist’s Reflection

Lowly hut is mine  
  South-east from the capital:–  
Thus I choose to dwell;–  
  And the world in which I live  
 Men have named a “Mount of Gloom.”

Kisen Hōshi (Hōshi (Priest) Kisen)

Waga io wa  
  Miyako no tatsumi  
Shika zo sumu  
  Yo wo Uji yama to  
  Hito wa iu nari.

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.

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Kibbles counter and marketer! Louise makes sure the paperwork eventually gets done.
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