UJI NO SHI

...seeing the beauty
of the red bridge
upstream of Uji
of the many rushing rapids,
it will be difficult to leave...

...when Yoshinobu fell,
leaving the capital
without looking back,
hiding his tears:
this is my heart ...

...on Uji bridge
a copper ring bell
I hit it tan
and again tan
as a prayer to the river...

...if i see a sign
of transience
upon the branches,
blown by the breeze,
the sound of melting snow...

...it is stronger
than even a typhoon
in July,
softer even
than the frost on the ground...

...on a moonless evening
what a painful
thing to do
to step on the young shoots
and break them...

...when standing on Uji bridge
of the many rushing rapids,
upstream and down,
in the quiet forest and town,
a sign of passing time...

...Kizu river
where a young man
fell and drowned
and Uji changed
into a lonely sound...

...the magpie wings
stretch across
and I wait
for my beloved man
to cross the misty river...