Translations(Victor Hugo) The tomb said to the rose: "With the tears of the dawn from above What doest thou, flower of love?" The rose to the tomb answering said: "What make you of the souls that are fled To thy gulf ever gaping and dread." Said the rose to the cold somber tomb: "From these tears I distill in the gloom Rare honey and amber perfume." Said the tomb: "O thou blossom of sighs, (Original by Frau von Hillern) Upon the rose, upon the rose, Still my heart is hanging, And when you come beneath the rose, There you'll find it clinging. Many fruits the fruit trees yield, So pleasant and so fair, And yet methinks no other tree, Such fruit as this can bear. O sweetheart, haste and pluck it down, Nor leave it hanging thither, For soon beneath the burning sun 'Twill perish, waste and wither. Japanese(The following were adapted from theJapanese with the help of M. T. Yamamoto.) National AnthemWhile a thousand generations shall glide, 'Til eight thousand sons have passed Shall the Son of Heaven's house abide, 'Til the pebble grows a mighty rock Which the mosses cover o'er and hide. WisteriaBy BashoI come, in the falling gloom, Weary, seeking an inn, Sad as thy purple robe, O thou wisteria bloom! LoveBy M. T. YamamotoIdeal love is like a star High and pure, but O so far, Shining o'er my dreams of you! Lo, our earthly loves are dew! Morning Glories(By Chiyo, a well-known lady poet.)For thy dear sake, sweet flower of the dawn, Asagaho, the morning glory vine, My drink shall from a neighbor's font be drawn, About my well-rope, lo thy ten- drils twine! |
The High Winds of Home
Elizabeth N. Barr
(Olathe: privately published. 1922)
Pages 42-45
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