tied up, it loosens
untied, it tangles so—
my husband’s hair
*
in the morning breeze
silvery blossoms, soft as silk
flutter to the ground
*
cherry blossoms
tumbling down
to the ground
From the introduction to Kokinshu, anthology of Japanese poetry commissioned by Emperor Daigo around the year 905: “Poetry in Japan begins with the human heart as its seed and words as its leaves. It arises when people are inspired by what they see and hear to give voice to the feelings that come forth from the multitude of events in their lives…”