Friday, October 06, 2006

sleepless autumn

Was it all a dream -
I mean those old by gone days -
were they what they seemed?
All night long I lie awake
listening to autumn rain.

What might I leave you
as my lasting legacy -
flowers in spring time,
the cuckoo singing all summer,
the yellow leaves of autumn.

~Ryōkan

Ryōkan was famous for his poetry and calligraphy. His poetry is often very simple and inspired by nature. poems show he had a good sense of humour and didn't take himself too seriously.

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